UN REFUGEE AGENCY MOBILIZES LAWYERS TO ADDRESS STATELESSNESS IN MONTENEGRO

UN REFUGEE AGENCY MOBILIZES LAWYERS TO ADDRESS STATELESSNESS IN MONTENEGRO
New York, Jun 1 2007 8:00AM
Over one hundred people in Montenegro have recently received assistance from lawyers mobilized by the United Nations refugee agency as part of stepped-up efforts to fight statelessness in the Balkans country.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) legal aid implementing partners have assisted thousands of displaced persons in Montenegro since 1998, the agency said in a news release. "They are focusing increasingly on the issue of statelessness and, since November last year, have helped 146 people in Montenegro obtain proof of birth and/or nationality."

The agency said it is working to better assess the number of people at risk of statelessness in Montenegro in order to develop a comprehensive and lasting solution to the problem. By some estimates, up to 6,500 members of the Roma, Ashkaelia, and Egyptian population may be at risk due to lack of documents.

"Without proof of citizenship, people slip through the cracks in society and they are cut off from important rights," said Maja Lazic, coordinator for UNHCR's regional legal aid project. "Conversely, without registered, documented inhabitants, States are unable to effectively govern their populations."

The agency said solving the problem will require continued legal assistance and outreach campaigns, as well as advocacy for a more active, open and transparent approach by the State bodies responsible for birth registration.

It also called for improved access for displaced persons to documentation in Serbia.

2007-06-01 00:00:00.000

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UN SAYS 10 SUSPECTS HELD FOLLOWING COCAINE SEIZURE IN HAITI

UN SAYS 10 SUSPECTS HELD FOLLOWING COCAINE SEIZURE IN HAITI
New York, Jun 1 2007 8:00AM
Working with the Haitian National Police, officers from the United Nations mission in the country have helped to seize 420 kilogrammes of cocaine and take in 10 suspects.

Five Haitian policemen, three civilians and two Colombians were taken by UN military escort to a central judicial office in Port-au-Prince, the capital, during yesterday's operation, according to the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Fourteen packages holding 420 kilogrammes of cocaine were taken from three vehicles headed to the capital from Petit Goâve, said MINUSTAH in a news release, adding that the substance will be sent to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

The operation was carried out in the framework of fighting the illicit drug trade in Haiti, which has become a significant transit point, the mission said.

2007-06-01 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY TO AID NEWLY ARRIVED SUDANESE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UN REFUGEE AGENCY TO AID NEWLY ARRIVED SUDANESE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Jun 1 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency has announced plans to delivery emergency aid to Sudanese refugees who have recently fled attacks in the Darfur region and crossed into the Central African Republic (CAR).

The flow of refugees, which over the past two weeks has seen at least 1,500 Sudanese arrive in Sam Ouandja, is continuing, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which commissioned a registration team to travel to the area.

The team will take down names and other details of new arrivals at a special site set aside by local authorities for the refugees, the agency said in a news release.

UNHCR is preparing a first delivery of some 600 rolls of plastic sheeting -- enough for 3,000 people -- which the refugees will use to prepare temporary shelters. Other UN agencies are arranging the delivery of food, water and sanitation supplies.

On Monday, a team of UNHCR staff and representatives of other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) reported from Sam Ouandja that most new arrivals were women and children who had walked for 10 days from the town of Dafak in Darfur -- a distance of some 200 kilometres. They had used paths which are accessible only on foot or by donkey.

"I was touched by what I saw in Sam Ouandja," said Bruno Geddo, UNHCR's representative in CAR and leader of the inter-agency mission. "Women were collecting mangoes and the men were working on nearby farms to make some money. Many families had begun building makeshift houses. There was a spontaneous settlement coming up," he said, adding that some refugees were selling their livestock.

Mr. Geddo said the refugees had described how their homes had been bombarded by an Antonov aircraft and helicopters and attacked on the ground by armed assailants whom they alleged were Arab janjaweed militiamen. The attacks, which took place between 12 and 18 May, drove people from Dafak, a town of some 15,000 inhabitants.
there were more air attacks as they fled.

Despite reports about the the presence of armed groups among the refugees, "The joint mission did not find evidence of the presence of armed or otherwise suspicious elements in the group," said Mr. Geddo. UNHCR has pledged to continue to monitor the situation closely.

The refugees said they would not return to Darfur until their safety could be guaranteed, according to the agency. Many expressed fear of further attacks and asked the CAR authorities to provide added protection in Sam Ouandja, which was attacked earlier this year by CAR rebels. The town suffers from a shortage of food and medical supplies. Schools are closed as many of the teachers fled last year.

CAR hosts some 8,200 refugees, mainly from the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad. There are also more than 200,000 internally displaced people in the country, UNHCR said.

Meanwhile in Geneva, Elizabeth Byrs of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the CAR is one of the most forgotten countries in the world and its humanitarian crisis seemed to be ignored by donor countries.

The Economy Minister of the Central African Republic, Sylvain Maliko, and the Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, are touring a number of European capitals to draw the attention of officials to the situation.

On 30 per cent of the $80 million sought in the 2007 UN Appeal has been covered, Ms. Byrs said. Later this month, development partners will meet to address the situation ahead of a pledging conference planned for October.

2007-06-01 00:00:00.000

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UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF 'APPALLED' BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN DR CONGO, BURUNDI

UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF 'APPALLED' BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN DR CONGO, BURUNDI
New York, May 31 2007 7:00PM
The top United Nations human rights official today said that she was appalled by the level of sexual and gender-based violence she found in Africa's Great Lakes region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

"I have to say the level of sexual violence and its intensity is pretty surprising and appalling," High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/070531_Arbour.doc.htm">told reporters in New York after briefing the Security Council on her recent 12-day visit to the region, where she toured the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.

"Gender-based violence is not just an affront to dignity; it is a form of torture and absolute brutal physical and mental assault on the victims," she said.

In a hospital Ms. Arbour visited in Kisangani in the northern DRC, one of the many she stopped at during her mission, she said that 60 per cent of the cases involved victims between the ages of 11 and 17.

Providing medical assistance – such as major fistula surgery – to assist victims is key, Ms. Arbour said, but she observed that "what is required is so out of reach," both in terms of resources and of manpower.

She stressed that efforts targeting perpetrators and bring them to justice are also crucial.

While women who have been victims of violence have been ostracized and stigmatized, those behind the crimes operate with impunity, she said. In some instances, women are teased by the very same people who attacked them.

Deficits in the justice systems in the DRC and Burundi must be addressed to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are prosecuted, she said. The system in the DRC is "so deficient," she said, with informal settlements often taking place so those responsible are not charged. Meanwhile in Burundi, she said that magistrates themselves have commented on the corruption and interference thwarting the prosecution of cases.

In the DRC, the High Commissioner said that she travelled to such areas as Kisangani as well as Bunia and Goma in the east, "where armed groups are still continuing their predatory practices."

One of the unfortunate effects in the DRC of the reintegration of militia leaders into the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) is that "they have been emboldened, further empowered and seem to be continuing exactly the same pattern of predatory practices against civilians in the region," she noted, calling for a major reform of the security sector.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AND AU OUTLINE DETAILS OF PROPOSED HYBRID PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN DARFUR

UN AND AU OUTLINE DETAILS OF PROPOSED HYBRID PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN DARFUR
New York, May 31 2007 6:00PM
The planned hybrid United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur will only succeed if its unity and coherence of command are not compromised and the Sudanese Government consents and cooperates, according to a joint <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/307">report issued by the UN and AU and released today.

The report called the proposed force "an unprecedented undertaking" and outlines the mandate, structure, components and resource requirements. Written by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konaré, it cautioned that a peacekeeping operation in Darfur would not restore stability to the violence-wracked region without an inclusive political process.

"The operation's success depends critically on whether the Government of the Sudan will come to see the United Nations and the hybrid operation as part of the solution to the conflict in Darfur," the report said.

Last November, the Government, the UN and the AU agreed to the creation of a hybrid force in Darfur as the third phase of a three-step process to replace the existing but under-resourced AU Mission in the Sudan (AMIS), which has been unable to end the fighting.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million others displaced from their homes since clashes erupted in 2003 between Government forces, allied Janjaweed militias and rebel groups.

Since the November agreement was reached, the Sudanese Government has raised objections to the presence of the UN in Darfur, and the report stated that the hybrid force's mandate must reflect the agreement of all the parties for it to succeed.

The report detailed two options for the size of the force's military component: under one plan, there would be 19,555 troops and under the other there would be 17,605 troops. The police component would require 3,772 officers.

An overall mandate must be approved by both the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, and is likely to focus on the protection of civilians, the facilitation of full humanitarian access, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the restoration of security through the enforcement of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Rodolphe Adada, the joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur appointed earlier this month, would head the operation and be responsible for its management and functioning. The Force Commander would be an African, in line with a previous agreement, while several other senior appointments would be made jointly.

"All efforts will be made to ensure that the peacekeeping force will have a predominantly African character," the report stated.

Although the hybrid force would operate apart from the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.unmis.org/english/en-main.htm">UNMIS), which is helping to enforce the peace in southern Sudan after a 2005 deal ended the country's separate long-running north-south civil war, there would be a strong liaison arrangement between the two operations. Existing UN humanitarian operations in Darfur would also be managed separately to the hybrid force.

Mr. Ban and Mr. Konaré make clear in the report that establishing such a multidimensional operation in Darfur presents particular challenges.

"Darfur is a remote and arid region, with harsh environmental conditions, poor communications, underdeveloped, poor infrastructure and extremely long land transport and supply lines from Port Sudan," they wrote.

The report was sent to Security Council members last week but formally released today.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD DISTRIBUTION RESUMES AFTER DEADLY ATTACK ON CONVOY IN UGANDA

UN FOOD DISTRIBUTION RESUMES AFTER DEADLY ATTACK ON CONVOY IN UGANDA
New York, May 31 2007 6:00PM
After suspending aid operations in northeastern Uganda earlier this week following a deadly attack, the Government and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that the agency will resume its aid operations in the area tomorrow.

On Monday, Richard Achuka, 41, was shot in the neck and shoulder and died yesterday when the gunmen attacked four of the agency's trucks as they returned from delivering food to schools and other sites in northeastern Karamoja region of the country.

Supply distribution to half a million people impacted by drought was halted on Tuesday.

"Because we are keenly aware of the magnitude of the drought in Karamoja and the huge additional needs for relief assistance, <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2503">WFP has agreed to resume its humanitarian work across the region from tomorrow (1 June)," said the agency's Uganda Country Director Tesema Negash.

Ugandan authorities have assured WFP that security will be bolstered.

"We must recognize that WFP works in a challenging environment," said Ugandan Minister of State for Relief and Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru. "The Government will provide full security to staff and property of WFP and all humanitarian partners in the region to enable them to achieve their mission."

Also this week, leaders of the Abim, Kaabong and Kotido Districts asked WFP voiced alarm at the murder and asked the agency to consider this an isolated incident. They promised to find those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

The leaders also urged the agency to continue with its efforts, noting their appreciation for WFP's work spanning 40 years in Karamoja, which has the highest malnutrition rates in the country.

"If WFP withdraws from Karamoja at this critical time, the suffering of the people will reach unacceptable levels," said Simon Lokodo from the Karamoja Parliamentary Group.

Karamoja, the country's poorest region, has been ravaged by three droughts in six years. This January, WFP began distributing supplies to feed half a million people, while an additional 200,000 in the same region also receive the agency's aid. As a result, at least 70 per cent of Karamoja's total population benefits from WFP's assistance.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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AID REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN SOMALIA, BUT DIFFICULTIES PERSIST, UN SAYS

AID REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN SOMALIA, BUT DIFFICULTIES PERSIST, UN SAYS
New York, May 31 2007 6:00PM
Aid has been distributed to more than 90 per cent of the nearly 400,000 people displaced by recent fighting in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, though considerable humanitarian difficulties persist, the United Nations said today.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA) said that, to date, 366,000 of those displaced between February and earlier this month have been provided with food and supplies such as shelter and household items by UN agencies and their partners.

Humanitarian organizations have also been working to provide clean drinking water, sanitation, education and health services to internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom are now using the lull in fighting to return to Mogadishu, OCHA said.

OCHA voiced particular concern, however, over the prevalence of acute watery diarrhoea, which has killed nearly a thousand people, and the fact that some areas affected by the outbreak remain inaccessible.

Many roads are still too dangerous for transport, landmines have been reported in some areas, airstrips have been rained out, transit through Kenya is still being negotiated and ships are refusing to sail to Somalia following the deadly 19 May attack against a chartered ship off the port of Merka. A guard trying to repulse pirates was killed in that incident.

In follow-up to the mid-May visit of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, an inter-agency mission travelled to Mogadishu from 29 to 30 May to discuss ways to increase humanitarian assistance.

The mission emphasized that the focus of the current response is now on providing basic services to the IDPs, leaving resettlement plans to be linked to the national reconciliation process.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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ON WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY, UN CALLS FOR STAMPING OUT SMOKING IN WORKPLACE

ON WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY, UN CALLS FOR STAMPING OUT SMOKING IN WORKPLACE
New York, May 31 2007 5:00PM
As <"http://www.who.int/tobacco/communications/events/wntd/2007/en/index.html">World No Tobacco Day is celebrated today, the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/tobacco/resources/publications/wntd/2007/pol_recommendations/en/index.html">WHO) called for stamping out smoking in the workplace to protect people from second-hand fumes.

Tobacco is the second major cause of death worldwide, and it will kill half of the 650 million people who smoke regularly, the agency said. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people who have never smoked die yearly from diseased caused by second-hand tobacco smoke.

The theme of this year's Day is "Smoke-free inside: Create and enjoy 100% smoke-free environments."

According to WHO, "neither ventilation nor filtration, alone or in combination, can reduce exposure levels of tobacco smoke indoors to levels that are considered acceptable, even in terms of odour, much less health effects."

The agency debunked myths pertaining to second-hand smoke, stressing that it kills and can also cause serious illnesses.

"The right to clean air, free from tobacco smoke, is a human right," the agency declared, underscoring how the majority of the world's population – who are non-smokers – have the right to not be exposed to others' smoke.

WHO also pointed out that smoke-free environments help prevent people, including the young, from picking up the habit.

World No Tobacco Day is being celebrated across the globe through events ranging from talks to art contests to film presentations.

In Nantes, a city in western France, approximately 500 staff members of a hospital – including doctors, nurses and technicians – participated in a football tournament and will commit to not smoking during the work day and to help patients to kick the habit for good.

To commemorate the Day in Mingora, Pakistan, lecturers, teachers, journalists, lawyers, traders, doctors, 200 college and school students rallied to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking.

Meanwhile in Thailand, health professionals and volunteers held a running and jogging event to alert the public to the impact of tobacco on health.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY CALLS FOR REFORMS TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN CAMBODIA

UN ENVOY CALLS FOR REFORMS TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN CAMBODIA
New York, May 31 2007 5:00PM
A United Nations envoy today <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/DEAA94AAF3EC046AC12572EC004A178F?opendocument">welcomed legal reforms in Cambodia, expressing hope that their long-awaited adoption will begin to redress unjust court proceedings and other violations of human rights in the Southeast Asian country.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for human rights in the country, Yash Ghai, said he hoped that the Code of Penal Procedure "will overcome many of the problems that have dogged the Cambodian justice system and that the Government will give priority to its implementation."

Mr. Ghai, who conducted his third official visit to Cambodia from 29 to 31 May 2007, cited, with particular regret, a recent decision by the Appeal Court to uphold convictions for the murder of a trade union leader despite strong exculpatory evidence and "fundamentally flawed" proceedings.

"The upholding of these sentences is a grave injustice and the Special Representative reiterates his calls for a thorough, impartial and credible investigation into the murder of Chea Vichea, and for the prosecution of those responsible," he said in a statement.

Mr. Ghai also voiced hope for the speedy adoption of the Internal Rules for the courts organized to try former Khmer Rouge leaders, accused of mass killings and other horrific crimes during the late 1970s, stressing the importance of independent international monitoring of the trials and the investigation of irregularities.

On other issues, he noted with alarm the continued intimidation of members of the workers' movement and said he will shortly release a report presenting a human rights perspective on land concessions that he maintains have destroyed the livelihoods of rural communities in favour of the enrichment of an elite.

On the other hand, he noted with approval that the commune council elections on 1 April were conducted in an atmosphere marked by less violence, threats and confrontation than in previous elections, though he also looked forward to investigations of the drop in voter turnout.

He said those who wish to vote in next year's general elections should have the "full opportunity to register and cast their votes," and for political parties to be given the opportunity "to conduct their campaigns fairly and freely."

The Special Representative met with Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng during his visit, but expressed regret that none of the other senior government officials he had hoped to meet were available to see him. He was, however, able to meet with civil society, political parties, the National Election Commission, UN agencies and the diplomatic community.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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FINISHING TOUR, TOP UN MILITARY ADVISER SEES RISING CONFIDENCE IN PEACEKEEPING

FINISHING TOUR, TOP UN MILITARY ADVISER SEES RISING CONFIDENCE IN PEACEKEEPING
New York, May 31 2007 5:00PM
The Military Adviser to the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), who is retiring today, said that coping with burgeoning new mandates in recent years has boosted the success of UN operations overall.

"Managing the surge, managing to sustain and increase the interests of peacekeeping, managing to maintain a strong relationship and understanding with a number of multinational and regional organizations," has resulted in "a greater sense of confidence in the legitimacy of peacekeeping," said Major-General Randhir Kumar Mehta of India told the UN News Service.

Since he began providing strategic advice to DPKO in early 2005, peacekeeping staff has grown from 60,000 to 100,000 with contributing countries increasing from 103 to 115, and new operations in Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic in various stages of planning.

General Mehta said managing these complex tasks has required a rise in operational flexibility and innovative relationships with regional organizations and individual Member States.

Examples of these new arrangements include the multinational force led by Australia in Timor-Leste, the French force supporting UN operations in Côte d'Ivoire and the move toward a hybrid mission with the African Union in Darfur.

"Adaptability, creativity and flexibility – I'm very proud of it," he said.

The arrangements with other entities, he added, will only grow in importance, because experience has shown that long-term commitment to countries is needed to keep them from lapsing back into conflict.

On the military side that means training for security sector, as well as DDR – Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of former combatants – which can take decades, he said.

Among other observations as he prepared to retire, General Mehta emphasized that gaps of communication in the UN system – between the Security Council and General Assembly Committees and various Secretariat departments – must be bridged.

In addition, he stressed that Council mandates must be more quickly translated to operational tactics – checkpoints, protection of convoys, patrolling, dominating areas of ground – within the political considerations that are always paramount.

He said learned much about working within UN limitations under high tension when he was assigned to his first UN position as a sector commander in Sierra Leone in May 2000, when 250 peacekeepers were being held under siege by rebels.

Making sure that the right resources were in place – including a pioneering use of attack helicopters with night time capability – he launched an operation in early July that year that rescued the peacekeepers with minimal loss of life, and "broke the back" of the insurgency.

The use of better enabling equipment, such as attack helicopters, and more robust mandates have helped bolster the effectiveness in UN operations in recent years, but the general principles have remained the same, he said: "We never forget that force must be applied only as a last resort."

In addition to his command in Sierra Leone, General Mehta said he was able to draw on the prodigious experience of the Indian military in peacekeeping operations, which dates from Korea in 1953 and includes seminal peacekeepers such as the advisor to former Secretary-Generals Dag Hammarskjöld and U Thant, Indar Jit Rikhye, who passed away earlier this month.

He said the top troop contributing countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and India – have had extremely good coordination under the UN flag, despite their complex relations as neighbours.

He noted that soon after his arrival as military advisor, blue helmets in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were ambushed and Bangladeshi and Pakistani battalions were seamlessly supported by Indian helicopters.

General Mehta, who is retiring from the Indian Military after 41 years on the same day as he relinquishes his UN duties, is particularly proud of his country's recent deployment of the first-ever UN female police contingent, which he says are operationally proven and not just tokens.

"You know, in our legends, the male deities are occasionally defeated, but the female deities never are," he said.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES MAKE HOUSE CALLS TO VACCINATE AFGHAN NEWBORNS

UN AGENCIES MAKE HOUSE CALLS TO VACCINATE AFGHAN NEWBORNS
New York, May 31 2007 1:00PM
Joining forces with the Afghan Government, two United Nations agencies are conducting their final round of house calls to vaccinate newborns and their mothers against tetanus in the capital, Kabul.

The UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en">WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) are also participating in campaigns to immunize children between the ages of 59 months and six years in schools, mosques and other locations. This provides an opportunity for children who rarely visit clinics to receive free vaccinations in community centres.

"We want all parents to take part in this valuable vaccination campaign," said WHO's Riyad Musa. "We are here to serve the families of our nation's capital, to ensure the future health of our children, and therefore the future of Afghanistan."

Approximately 3,500 trained vaccinators and volunteers are involved in the campaign, which will continue to furnish vaccinations free of charge at local health clinics beyond this week.

Neonatal tetanus can be fatal, and can be contracted if the birth process or the baby's cord comes into contact with dirt. However, provided the mother has received at least two tetanus vaccinations before or during her pregnancy, her child will not contract it.

While people of any age who have not been immunized can contract measles, young children are most at risk. Deaths from measles in Afghanistan have been slashed 90 per cent through two nationwide campaigns from 2001 to 2003 which were supported by WHO, UNICEF and their partners.

In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2502">WFP) said that in spite of obstacles posed by growing insecurity in the south and east of the country, it continues to operate in almost all parts of the war-torn country.

Afghanistan poses extreme challenges for WFP, with the effects of two decades of war and unrest being exacerbated by natural disasters, such as floods, harsh winters and severe droughts.

In a press release, WFP noted that is has distributed 10,000 metric tons of food for 350,000 people in Kandahar. This year, it plans to provide an additional 20,000 tons to feed 600,000 people, with assistance from the Canadian International Development, the agency's largest donor in Kandahar.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY URGES MEASURES TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES

UN AGENCY URGES MEASURES TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES
New York, May 31 2007 11:00AM
A United Nations agency today urged countries to invest more in fire preparedness and prevention.

"Countries need to enhance collaboration, share their knowledge and increasingly target people, who are the main cause of fires, through awareness-raising and education," said Peter Holmgren, FAO's Chief of the Forest Resources Development Service, in a news release.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000570/index.html">FAO) presented a global strategy to enhance international cooperation in fire management to a meeting earlier this month in Spain of some 1,500 fire experts and planners from more than 80 countries.

The strategy includes a global assessment of fire management detailing incidence and impacts in all regions, a review of international cooperation, and the voluntary guidelines in fire management.

In the year 2000 alone, an estimated 350 million hectares of forests and woodlands were destroyed by fire, with sub-Saharan Africa and Australasia accounting for 80 per cent of the total area burned, according to FAO.

The agency acknowledged that fire is an important and widely used tool in agriculture and in maintaining ecosystems, but warned that wildfires, which are frequently the result of negligence or arson, destroy millions of hectares of forests and woodlands, resulting in loss of human and animal life and immense economic damage.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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LAND IN AFGHANISTAN DONATED TO MINE VICTIMS, UN REPORTS

LAND IN AFGHANISTAN DONATED TO MINE VICTIMS, UN REPORTS
New York, May 31 2007 11:00AM
Land in Afghanistan that is now free of mines has been donated to the brave workers who were injured while clearing those deadly weapons from the area, the United Nations said today.

Giving the land to 87 individuals, Mohammad Housain Anwary, the Governor of the province of Herat, said he wanted to honor their important work of the deminers in Afghanistan, the UN Mine Action Centre there (<" http://www.mineaction.org/org.asp?o=17 ">UNMACA), reported today.

"Demining is really a continuation of Jihad," he said. "Jihad doesn't only mean fighting and having weapons. It means supporting human beings, stability and development."

The 87 deminers, who were all wounded in the Herat region during mine clearance activities, have since returned to their homes, but most are unemployed and face challenging living conditions, according to UNMACA, which oversees mine action on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan.

"These deminers are really worthy of appreciation. Demining is the best support to the country," said Mohammad Sediq, the UNMACA Chief of Operations. "It is our duty to look after them, especially ones who have become the victims of mines. We thank Governor Anwary, and we hope this action will be followed by other government authorities as a positive example throughout the country."

Two weeks ago, Rahmatullah Rahmat, the Governor of the province of Paktia, donated land to 26 deminers who were the victims of mine accidents in Paktia.

The Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA), an umbrella organization comprised of partners that are coordinated by UNMACA, has cleared more than 1 billion square meters throughout Afghanistan since 1989 – destroying more than 323,000 anti-personnel mines, more than 18,500 anti-tank mines and almost seven million pieces of unexploded ordnance.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY HONOURS CHILDREN FOR ARTWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE

UN AGENCY HONOURS CHILDREN FOR ARTWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, May 31 2007 10:00AM
Raising awareness of the dangers posed by climate change, the United Nations environment agency has recognized three children for their artistic depictions of the phenomenon.

Eleven-year old Charlotte Sullivan of the United Kingdom took first prize in the UN Environment Programme's (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=506&ArticleID=5592&l=en">UNEP) International Children's Painting Competition for her rendering of the world as an umbrella turned inside out by a powerful storm.

Miss Sullivan will be joined by the joint second prize winners – 12-year old Ekaterina Nishchuk of Russia and 13-year old Petkova Polina Zdravkova of Bulgaria – at the main World Environment Day celebrations hosted close to the Arctic circle in the Tromso, Norway.

Miss Nishchuk was chosen for her image of a polar bear standing under a hot sun, peeling off its white fur down to its trunks while atop a perilously small, wasted ice-berg. Miss Zdravkova's painting is of a melting world, apparently dripping tears into the abyss of space.

"I would urge political leaders to see the world through the brush, pen strokes and paintings of these gifted children to ensure that these young peoples' fears are not realized and their hopes fulfilled," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, who will meet the contest's three global and six regional winners at the Tromso Museum in Norway early next month.

The competition, which was organized in cooperation with the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment, Bayer AG and the Nikon Corporation, received 14,000 entries from 104 countries this year.
2007-05-31 00:00:00.000

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DIPLOMATIC QUARTET CALLS ON BOTH SIDES TO 'WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY' TOWARDS PEACE

DIPLOMATIC QUARTET CALLS ON BOTH SIDES TO 'WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY' TOWARDS PEACE
New York, May 30 2007 8:00PM
The <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=70&Body=Palestin&Body1=">Middle East diplomatic Quartet issued a wide-ranging <"http://www.un.org/news/dh/infocus/middle_east/quartet-30may2007.htm">statement today calling on Israel and the Palestinians to work constructively to create an environment where there can be progress towards Palestinian statehood that is consistent with previous international agreements and resolutions.

After holding a high-level meeting in Berlin, the Quartet principals – including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – also called for more direct talks between the leaders of the two sides to try to find ways to address their respective concerns.

"Palestinians must know that their state will be viable, and Israelis must know a future state of Palestine will be a source of security, not a threat," according to the statement, which was read out after the meeting by Mr. Ban.

It added that the parties should "work positively and constructively in order to build confidence and to create an environment conducive to progress on the political horizon for Palestinian statehood, consistent with the Roadmap and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which should also be addressed in these bilateral discussions."

Devised by the Quartet (comprising the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States), the Roadmap lays out mutual steps to achieve a two-State solution to the conflict, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.

Today's Quartet statement voiced deep concern over recent intra-Palestinian factional violence in Gaza and called on the Palestinian Authority to do everything it could to restore law and order, including by securing the release of the abducted BBC journalist Alan Johnston.

Quartet members strongly condemned the firing of rockets into southern Israel by Palestinian militants and the build-up of arms by Hamas and other terrorist groups, and urged the immediate release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Equally, the statement called on Israel to "exercise restraint to ensure that its security operations avoid civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure" and to release the elected members of the Palestinian government and legislature it has detained.

Welcoming recent dialogue between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Quartet called for that to continue and for the Movement and Access Agreement of November last year to be fully implemented.

It also commended the work of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) and endorsed its extension for another three months until the end of September. TIM is the means devised last year by the EU and the World Bank to provide aid directly to the Palestinian people by bypassing the then Hamas-led Government, which had not committed to recognizing of Israel or renouncing violence.

"The Quartet noted that the resumption of transfers of tax and customs revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority would have a significant impact on the Palestinian economy," the statement stressed.

"The Quartet encouraged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to consider resumption of such transfers via the Temporary International Mechanism to improve the economic and humanitarian conditions in the West Bank and Gaza."

The statement also welcomed the recent reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative – saying it "provides a welcome regional political horizon, complementing the efforts of the Quartet and of the parties themselves to advance towards negotiated, comprehensive, just and lasting peace."

Welcoming the Arab League's efforts to promote the initiative in Israel and with the Quartet, the statement "encouraged continued and expanded Arab contacts with Israel, and Israeli action to address concerns raised in the 18 April Arab League decision, including a cessation of settlement expansion and the removal of illegal outposts, as called for in the Roadmap."

In addition to Mr. Ban, today's meeting in Berlin was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, European Commission External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU High Representative for Common Security and Foreign Policy Javier Solana and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

They agreed to meet in the Middle East next month with both the Israelis and the Palestinians to review progress and discuss the way forward, and to also hold further discussions with the Arab League on the Arab Peace Initiative.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS JOINT UN-HAITIAN EFFORTS AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE

SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS JOINT UN-HAITIAN EFFORTS AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE
New York, May 30 2007 8:00PM
Endorsing the recent efforts of the Haitian Government and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the impoverished Caribbean country to tackle gang violence and reform the national police, the Security Council today called for further measures to improve the justice system.

Council members reiterated their strong support for the Government and the mission, known as MINUSTAH, "to maintain stability and achieve progress," Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating presidency this month, said in a statement to the press.

The press statement followed a briefing to the 15-member Council by Edmond Mulet, the head of MINUSTAH and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti.

The Council voiced appreciation "for the ongoing efforts by MINUSTAH in supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in the fight against gang violence as well as the efforts to implement the HNP reform plan, in particular the beginning of the vetting process, and encouraged further efforts to advance the reform of the justice system."

In recent months, MINUSTAH has stepped up efforts to crack down on criminal gangs in violence-ridden Haiti; since the start of the year, more than 400 gang members have been arrested.

The press statement also welcomed the efforts of MINUSTAH in facilitating last year's successful election cycle across Haiti and said Council members looked forward to the Mission providing logistics support and security for the country's senate elections during the latter part of this year.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL VOTES TO ESTABLISH HARIRI ASSASSINATION TRIBUNAL

SECURITY COUNCIL VOTES TO ESTABLISH HARIRI ASSASSINATION TRIBUNAL
New York, May 30 2007 8:00PM
The Security Council agreed today that the special tribunal set up to try the suspected killers of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri will enter into force on 10 June unless Lebanon ratifies the tribunal itself before that date.

A resolution endorsing the tribunal's formal establishment was adopted after 10 Council members voted in favour and no members voted against. Five countries – China, Russia, Indonesia, Qatar and South Africa – abstained.

The resolution was introduced after Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora sent a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier this month asking for the Council to put the tribunal into effect as a matter of urgency.

Mr. Ban told Council members in a subsequent letter that he concurred with Mr. Siniora "that, regrettably, all domestic options for the ratification of the Special Tribunal now appear to be exhausted, although it would have been preferable had the Lebanese parties been able to resolve the issue among themselves based on a national consensus."

The tribunal will be of "an international character" to deal with the assassination of Mr. Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut in February 2005.

Once it is formally established, it will be up to the tribunal to determine whether other political killings in Lebanon since October 2004 were connected to Mr. Hariri's assassination and could therefore be dealt with by the tribunal.

In April 2005 the Security Council set up the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon's own inquiry into the Hariri assassination was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack.

Serge Brammertz, the current head of the IIIC, told the Council last September that evidence obtained so far suggests that a young, male suicide bomber, probably non-Lebanese, detonated up to 1,800 kilograms of explosives inside a van to assassinate Mr. Hariri.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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HUNDREDS OF SUDANESE FLEE TO TOWN IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, UN SAYS

HUNDREDS OF SUDANESE FLEE TO TOWN IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, UN SAYS
New York, May 30 2007 7:00PM
Some 1,500 Sudanese refugees have sought refuge in a single town in the Central African Republic (CAR), claiming that Sudanese Government forces and armed militias attacked their town two weeks ago, a United Nations spokesperson said today.

Several UN agencies have just completed an assessment mission to the town of Sam Ouandja, in northeastern CAR, the spokesperson, Michele Montas, said today in New York.

"The agencies say the number of refugees continues to grow," Ms. Montas said. "The majority of them are women and children, who have travelled the 200 kilometres between the two towns on foot."

The World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) is providing a one-month initial food ration for the refugees who have already arrived in the town, and the UN High Commission for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) along with he UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) is providing non-food items, Ms. Montas added.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA) issued a news release saying the influx of refugees is ongoing.

"We did not find evidence of the presence of armed elements in the group and the refugees assured the mission that everyone originates from DaFak in Sudan and no Chadian nationals among them," said Bruno Geddo, Representative of UNHCR.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of the operation," he added.

"Considering that the majority of the refugees appear to be women and children, WFP will provide emergency food assistance, while at the same time carry out an assessment of the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable individuals among the local population in Sam Ouandja," said that agency's Representative in CAR, Jean-Charles Dei.

"Beyond the need for humanitarian assistance, the United Nations remains highly concerned about the protection of civilians and calls for the national authorities to continue to facilitate humanitarian access to displaced populations in need," said Jean-Sébastien Munié, OCHA chief in the country.

UN officials have frequently warned that the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region is threatening to engulf the CAR as well as Chad – a caution Mr. Munié repeated today.

"The arrival of these refugees from Sudan is another evidence of the spill-over effect and the regional dimension of the conflict in Darfur," he concluded.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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BURUNDI: SECURITY COUNCIL URGES MEASURES TO BRING RIGHTS VIOLATORS TO JUSTICE

BURUNDI: SECURITY COUNCIL URGES MEASURES TO BRING RIGHTS VIOLATORS TO JUSTICE
New York, May 30 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations Security Council and the world body's top human rights official today urged the Government of Burundi to take steps toward consolidating peace, including by bringing the perpetrators of abuses to justice.

The Council adopted a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9030.doc.htm">presidential statement on Burundi welcoming recent political developments in the country, including steps by the Government aimed at promoting dialogue, national reconciliation and social harmony.

The Council statement, read out by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, also urged the Government "to intensify its efforts on all aspects of reform of the security sector and to address the issue of human rights abuses committed by members of the security services, including by bringing perpetrators to justice and encourages international partners."

In addition, the Government was urged to "step up its efforts to combat impunity and to promote and protect human rights, paying in this context particular attention to reducing the high level of gender-based violence and of violence against children."

The Council encouraged the Secretary-General and the Burundian authorities to pursue their dialogue with a view to agreeing on the establishment of a transitional justice mechanism based on the highest standards of justice and international human rights.

The Council called on all Burundian political players "to maintain the spirit of dialogue, consensus-building and inclusiveness, including in addressing the issue of power sharing in an equitable manner, that enabled them to achieve a successful transition in their country," the President said.

It welcomed the establishment of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) and the support it provides to the peace consolidation process.

Welcoming a briefing it received from the Chair of the Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission on its activities relating to Burundi, the Council encouraged the Government and BINUB to devise a sound strategic framework to foster a commitment to consolidating peace.

Mr. Khalilzad said the Council "looks forward to receiving further advice on Burundi from the Peacebuilding Commission."

The Peacebuilding Commission met today on Burundi, hearing an <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/pbc13.doc.htm">address from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who has just returned from a mission to the country and others in Africa's Great Lakes region.

Ms. Arbour cited "a general concern over a lack of independence of the judiciary, a culture of impunity and continued violence perpetrated by State agents and armed groups throughout the country."

At the same time, she hailed "a real determination from all sectors of society to participate actively in the ongoing democratic process, which, if properly channelled, should ensure lasting peace, justice and reconciliation."

Ms. Arbour said her talks in Burundi led to agreement on fundamental issues concerning transitional justice mechanisms aimed at fostering reconciliation. The parties concerned reached "an unequivocal consensus" on the nature of national consultations that should precede the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Tribunal.

They also agreed that there will be no amnesties for the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, she said.

Based on meetings with people in Burundi, she said there is a widespread perception that "political authorities regularly influence judicial processes."

The international community, she added, must continue "to urge the Government of Burundi to hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account and to support initiatives to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the establishment of a society based on the rule of law."

Women and children are often the main victims of abuses in the country, Ms. Arbour added, calling on the authorities to "resolutely combat sexual and all other forms of violence against women and children." She also called for stigmatizing the perpetrators "rather than the women victims who are often ostracized after being raped."

The Peacebuilding Commission was set up last year to marshal resources at the disposal of the international community to advise and propose strategies for post-conflict recovery, focusing attention on reconstruction, institution-building and sustainable development, in countries emerging from conflict.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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UN GROUP SEEKS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR POOR

UN GROUP SEEKS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR POOR
New York, May 30 2007 7:00PM
A United Nations group has issued a series of key messages targeted at encouraging different audiences to boost access to financial services – from opening bank accounts to taking out loans to buying insurance – to the poor.

These messages, aimed at governments, regulators, development partners and the private sector, were formed by the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors, which was created to promote financial inclusion in poorer countries.

"Access to a broad range of financial services is a significant development issue everywhere outside of developed countries," Richard Weingarten, Executive Director of the UN Capital Development Fund (<"http://www.uncdf.org/english/index.php">UNCDF), told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York today.

He <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/070530_Finance.doc.htm">noted that there are nearly three billion people worldwide who lack access to basic financial services. For example, only 30 million of sub-Saharan Africa's population of 744 million people have access to such services.

"Access to financial services is also very important in terms of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs)," he said, referring to the set of eight targets for slashing social and economic ills by 2015.

Improved access will enable poor people to increase their incomes, he said, adding that empirical evidence shows that those participating in microfinance programmes can improve their welfare more than those who do not.

"In India," Mr. Weingarten said, "half of the clients of a well-respected microfinance institution graduated out of poverty."

The Group, in its messages, reminded governments that although increasing access to financial services is crucial, it alone will not eliminate poverty. It also called on governments to lower interest rates to ensure that prices are transparent and that the market remains open and competitive.

Regulators must ensure that laws relating to money laundering do not hinder access to financial transfers critical to the poor, the Group said, while the private sector must remember that providing services to the poor presents a considerable business opportunity.

In its messages to development partners, the Group said that the paucity of strong institutions and managers obstructs efforts towards inclusive finance.

The Group was established with a two-year term following the 2005 International Year of Microcredit, and its members represent governments, central banks, regulatory agencies, microfinance institutions, private sector financial institutions, civil society, development agencies and academia from all over the world.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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WHILE HAILING US RIGHTS TRADITIONS, UN EXPERT VOICES CONCERN AT ANTI-TERROR STEPS

WHILE HAILING US RIGHTS TRADITIONS, UN EXPERT VOICES CONCERN AT ANTI-TERROR STEPS
New York, May 30 2007 6:00PM
Affirming the continuing leadership role of the United States in security and human rights, an independent United Nations expert has criticized some measures taken by the country to fight terrorism, after completing a ten-day fact finding visit.

Martin Scheinin, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, expressed concern over the holding of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq, Afghanistan and classified locations, and the permitting of military tribunals and "enhanced interrogation techniques" by the US, in preliminary findings.

During his visit from 16 to 25 May, he found "troubling" developments in immigration and refugee areas, profiling and community outreach issues, domestic surveillance and freedom of the press, said Mr. Scheinin, who is an unpaid expert, reporting to the UN Human Rights Council in a personal capacity.

The Special Rapporteur voiced his "deep respect for the long traditions in the United States of respect for individual rights, the rule of law, and a strong level of judicial protection," according to a <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/338107B9FD5A33CDC12572EA005286F8?opendocument">release on his 25 May press conference in Washington.

"Despite the existence of a tradition in the United States of respect for the rule of law, and the presence of self-correcting mechanisms under the US Constitution, it is most regretful that a number of important mechanisms for the protection of rights have been removed or obfuscated under law and practice since the events of September 11," Mr. Scheinin stated.

The primary instruments for weakening those protections, he said, were the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, the Military Commissions Act (MCA), Executive Orders and other programmes, some of which are classified.

The US Government extended an invitation to Mr. Scheinin following a request he made in October 2006, when he said the MCA violated the country's international obligations under human rights laws in several areas.

After his visit -- with specialists in the US Departments of State, Homeland Security, Defence and Justice, as well as members of Congress and non-governmental organizations – he maintained that the military commissions did indeed raise significant concerns.

Those include "the jurisdiction and composition of military commissions, the potential use of evidence obtained by coercion, and the potential for the imposition of the death penalty," among others.

He urged President George Bush to act on his announced intentions to move toward the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, and to ensure just treatment for detainees there and those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In all areas, the leadership position of the US in both the war on terror and human rights must be kept foremost in mind, he said.

"The Special Rapporteur thus sees his visit as one step in the process of restoring the role of the United States as a positive example for respecting human rights, including in the context of the fight against terrorism," he stressed, dismissing the perception that the United States has become "an enemy of human rights."

"It is a country which still has a great deal to be proud of," he said.

Mr. Sheinin said a more thorough report, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council, will be made available to the public.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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CLIMATE CHANGE THE FOCUS OF UPCOMING UN CONFERENCE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS

CLIMATE CHANGE THE FOCUS OF UPCOMING UN CONFERENCE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS
New York, May 30 2007 6:00PM
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have helped to expand the debate about climate change beyond the scientific community to the global mainstream, the author of a key United Nations report on the issue said today.

Professor Michael Oppenheimer, the lead author of the fourth assessment report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC), said this influence meant it was timely that climate change will be the subject of the annual UN Department of Public Information (DPI) conference with NGOs in September.

An estimated 2,000 to 2,400 NGOs are expected to gather at UN Headquarters in New York for the conference, which is entitled "Climate change: how it impacts us all."

"The UN and NGOs have been very important in the transformation of the climate issue from an arcane, obscure, abstract, hard-to-understand issue that only a few people really cared about to the globally pervasive question that it is today," Professor Oppenheimer said.

The three IPCC reports issued this year have documented the human causes behind climate change and its potentially dire impact on communities around the globe.

The reports found that by adopting stronger climate change policies, governments could slow and reverse current trends in the emission of greenhouse gases, and ultimately stabilize the level of such gases remaining in the atmosphere. But they cautioned that the longer it takes to reach a peak in emissions, the more difficult it will be to prevent higher average global temperatures.

September's DPI/NGO conference will focus on many aspects of climate change, including indigenous issues, land use, energy and sustainable development.

In a separate development, a spokesperson for the UN General Assembly announced that it will hold a debate in July on climate change.

The decision by General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa came in response to a request by the Permanent Representatives of the Philippines and Germany, on behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) New York Committee and the European Union, respectively, spokesman Ashraf Kamal told reporters in New York on Tuesday.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS IN DR CONGO

BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS IN DR CONGO
New York, May 30 2007 6:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent massacre of civilians in the war-ravaged east in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling on those responsible to be brought to justice.

"This latest atrocity underscores once again the need to resolve the problem of armed Congolese and foreign militia operating in the territory of the DRC," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11017.doc.htm">statement.

He urged "the Government of the DRC and the international community to work together in creating professional security forces capable of defending the security and human rights of the people of the DRC."

According to the UN mission in the country, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, during the night of 26-27 May, 19 civilians – including women and children – were killed when the villages of Nyabuluze and Muhungu were subject to unprovoked attacks. The massacre was reportedly perpetrated by machete-wielding members of the Rasta and Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) militia.

Notes were left on the bodies of their victims, in which the attackers claimed that these atrocities were in reprisals to the operations led against them by the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), MONUC said.

The mission also said that the perpetrators attempted to raid Chihamba, a third village in the same area, a patrol of UN Pakistani peacekeepers opened fire, forcing them to flee into the nearby forests and preventing further deaths.

Media reports that a dozen abductees have been killed remain unconfirmed, and the UN said that almost 30 people who were injured in the attacks are hospitalized in the towns of Kaniola and Walungu, where families close to the targeted villages have sought refuge.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Ross Mountain, also strongly condemned the brutal attacks, declaring that "the entire humanitarian community is appalled and outraged by these brutal murders and condemns all violence committed against civilians by armed groups."

On Monday, a rapid response team – comprising staff from the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA) and the non-governmental organization the International Rescue Committee – went to the town of Kaniola.

The team investigated the security situation and the magnitude of the population displacement caused by the recent violence, which the mission confirmed has sparked panic among the civilian population.

Not just people from the vicinity of the attacks, but also those far from the immediate area have fled their homes, the team noted.

"Since Sunday night, we are witnessing new population movements every day," Mr. Mountain said.

He added that 'night commuting' is on the rise. "Terrified civilians return to their villages or to their fields on the hills to check on their harvests. Before nightfall, they hurry back to urban centres and spend the night with host families or in community centres," he said.

Mr. Mountain underscored that it is the responsibility of the Government of the DRC to protect all of its citizens.

Humanitarian agencies in the region expect long-term displacements of people due to the massacre, and stressed the urgent need for medical supplies to help the injured, according to OCHA. More evaluation missions are required to identify the needs of those displaced.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY SADDENED BY DEATH AND INJURIES OF BHUTANESE REFUGEES

UN REFUGEE AGENCY SADDENED BY DEATH AND INJURIES OF BHUTANESE REFUGEES
New York, May 30 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations refugee agency today said it was extremely concerned over a violent clash between Bhutanese refugees and Indian police, and expressed its sadness at the death of one Bhutanese and the injury of several others.

Beginning on Monday, thousands of Bhutanese refugees residing in camps in eastern Nepal began a march to exercise their right to return to their homeland, but violence ensued on Tuesday when refugees clashed with Indian police on the Mechi bridge dividing India and Nepal.

"Although we still do not have all of the details of what transpired, there is no justification for such violence and loss of life," said Abraham Abraham, the Nepal representative for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "This is a terrible tragedy and our condolences go to all the families of those who died and were injured."

Roughly 107,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal since the introduction of strict citizenship laws in their home country 16 years ago. Dissatisfaction has been growing among the refugees, who are unable to work outside the camps in which they reside, as they have seen no solution to their situation since arriving in Nepal in the early 1990s.

"We are indeed extremely concerned by the latest developments and fully understand the increasing frustration of the refugees about the lack of progress on repatriation," Mr. Abraham said.

<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/465c730b4.html">UNHCR has dispatched representatives as well as a medical team to the border town of Kakarbhitta to assess the situation.

Echoing the Government's call, UNHCR appealed to the refugees to return to their camps and urged all parties to abstain from resorting to violence.

"For security to prevail and for normalcy to return it is paramount that the civilian character of the camps is maintained," Mr. Abraham said.

The situation in the Bhutanese camps in Nepal was reportedly calm today and the curfew in them has been lifted by the Government, after separate recent clashes there left two people dead.

Fighting broke out between groups of refugees with differing opinions over third country resettlement, and that police intervened to curb the violence and to maintain law and order.

Last week, High Commissioner António Guterres, during a visit to Nepal and Bhutan, told the refugees that they had the freedom to choose whether to resettle, and urged refugees to respect others' freedom of choice.

He also assured them that he would make every effort to ensure that as many doors as possible would be opened in terms of a lasting solution to their plight, including voluntary repatriation.

UNHCR – which supports the right of the Bhutanese refugees to repatriate – invites all sides to engage in an open discussion to find a peaceful solution to the issue.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO CALLS ON YOUNG TO BECOME 'COMMITTED WORLD CITIZENS'

MIGIRO CALLS ON YOUNG TO BECOME 'COMMITTED WORLD CITIZENS'
New York, May 30 2007 5:00PM
The success of the United Nations depends not just on international officials but "committed world citizens everywhere," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today.

Addressing the graduation ceremony of the UN International School in New York, Ms. Migiro said she hoped the students have drawn from their experiences in such a diverse classroom – this year's group of 112 graduates represents 43 nationalities – to "view afresh the most intractable social and political issues" in the world.

"Whatever profession or activity you pursue, I hope you will always be united by the bond of global citizenship that this school has created among you. And I hope you will always identify with the United Nations and its mission," the former university professor said.

Ms. Migiro said she hoped the graduates would "dare to dream big" in their future careers.

"This is your century, and this is your United Nations. As educated and empowered young men and women with promising careers, your support is particularly crucial in the years ahead."
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN AT CEASEFIRE BREAKDOWN IN GAZA

SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONCERN AT CEASEFIRE BREAKDOWN IN GAZA
New York, May 30 2007 5:00PM
The Security Council voiced grave concern today at the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the subsequent rise in violence across the troubled region.

Council members "welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to establish a ceasefire, and expressed appreciation for the active support of the Government of Egypt in this regard," Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9028.doc.htm">statement to the press.

"They urged all parties to join the members of the Council in supporting the call of President Abbas for an immediate end to the violence," the statement added.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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ENGAGEMENT AND DIPLOMACY BEFORE CONFRONTATION, SAYS BAN KI-MOON OF HIS STYLE

ENGAGEMENT AND DIPLOMACY BEFORE CONFRONTATION, SAYS BAN KI-MOON OF HIS STYLE
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
Stressing that engagement and diplomacy were his preferred method of overcoming differences, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has argued that recent changes in the world have worked to the UN's advantage as an effective mechanism for solving the world's crises.

"I believe in engagement, dialogue before confrontation," Mr. Ban wrote in an <"http://www.un.org/sg/press_article.shtml">opinion piece published in the international edition of <i>Newsweek</i> magazine. He added that efforts to establish rapport and an effective working relationship despite disagreements, however sharp, "will be the hallmark of my tenure as Secretary General."

Mr. Ban said he took on his current post "without illusions," being well aware of how a previous Secretary-General commented that it is the most "impossible" job in the world – but has maintained his optimism.

"With demands growing on every front, from peacekeeping to humanitarian assistance to health, the UN today is being called upon to do more than ever before, even as the resources to do these jobs grow proportionately more scarce," he wrote.

At the same time, he pointed out that the tide has shifted in the UN's favour, with a surge in the public's appreciation for multilateralism and diplomacy in handling crises. Issues for which the UN is typically identified as taking the lead, such as climate change, are increasingly becoming prominent on the global agenda.

"Perhaps most encouraging, public support for the UN remains strikingly high," he said, referring to a new poll which found almost three-quarters of respondents believing the Organization should play a stronger role on the global scene.

Even in the United States, where there is perceived to be disenchantment with the UN, 75 per cent of Americans surveyed in a recent poll favour a robust United Nations, with almost as many expecting their country's foreign policy to be conducted in partnership with the world body.

"For the UN, all this, too, amounts to a climate change," he observed.

Mr. Ban underscored the human dimension to his work, which he believes is a unifying theme in his efforts as Secretary-General.

For example, the key topic of climate change, he said, is inherently unequal, for as wealthier countries will be better equipped to adapt to global warming, poorer nations in places such as Africa, already impacted by desertification, will suffer disproportionately.

"We may read, each morning, about human tragedies in our newspapers," he said. "But how often do we truly hear such people's voices, or try with full force and determination to help? This I pledge to do."
2007-05-29 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON HEADS TO BERLIN FOR TOP-LEVEL QUARTET MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST

BAN KI-MOON HEADS TO BERLIN FOR TOP-LEVEL QUARTET MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is on his way to Berlin to attend Wednesday's high-level meeting of the Middle East Quartet, the international diplomatic grouping trying to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

The talks in the German capital will take place at a time of mounting concern at the situation in the region after a wave of deadly violence involving intra-Palestinian clashes, Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli military operations.

"The Quartet meeting comes at a timely juncture to review recent developments in Gaza and in Israel," Mr. Ban spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists today. "The Secretary-General hopes that this meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss the way ahead for a definition of a political horizon in the Middle East peace process."

The Quartet – which brings together the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States – has called repeatedly in the past for Israel and the Palestinians to follow the Road Map, which lays out mutual steps to achieve a two-State solution to the conflict, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.

In addition to Mr. Ban, the Berlin meeting is expected to be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, European Commission External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU High Representative for Common Security and Foreign Policy Javier Solana and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
2007-05-29 00:00:00.000

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INDEPENDENT UN TEAM HEADS TO LEBANON TO ASSESS BORDER SECURITY

INDEPENDENT UN TEAM HEADS TO LEBANON TO ASSESS BORDER SECURITY
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
A five-member United Nations team is heading to Lebanon next week to assess the monitoring of the country's border with Syria.

The team, comprised of experts in border security, police, customs and military issues, is scheduled to arrive in Beirut on Monday and then spend two to three weeks in the country, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters today.

Known as the Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team, it will hold consultations with Lebanese officials and bilateral partners already assisting Lebanon on border monitoring, review existing border security arrangements and travel to the border region.

The team is then expected to devise recommendations for additional help, training and equipment to enhance the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border and report back to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on its findings.

In a presidential statement issued last month, the Security Council called on Mr. Ban to send such a team.
2007-05-29 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES TEAM UP TO SAVE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA

UN AGENCIES TEAM UP TO SAVE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
Two United Nations agencies working together in Ethiopia are helping the country respond to stunted growth and malnutrition in the young by providing food and nutritional assistance, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The project "is saving thousands of lives in Ethiopia by providing mothers and children with key survival interventions," the agency said in a news release on the Enhanced Outreach Strategy/ Targeted Supplementary Food programme.

A joint initiative between the Government, <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP), the European-backed strategy aims to give the most vulnerable access to food, primary health care and nutritional awareness. It also monitors the nutritional status of populations for better emergency preparedness and response.

The Head of European Commission in Ethiopia, Tim Clarke, visited EC-funded projects in the country's Tigray Region last week and spoke about the fate of those without access to enough food. "We've just seen a child here who is 18 months' old. Her normal weight should be 13 kilos but she's only 5 kilos, so she's really at risk... through this programme we can give her therapeutic feeding and give her a chance to survive," he said.

In Tigray, more than 41 per cent of children under five experience stunted growth and an estimated 11.6 per cent suffer from acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF, which blamed the problem on drought and food insecurity. Nationally, the 2005 Demographic and Health Survey shows that 47 per cent of Ethiopia's children were stunted and 11 per cent wasted.

Interventions provided to children and pregnant and lactating women include vitamin-A supplementation, de-worming, measles immunization, malaria prevention through long-lasting insecticide treated nets distribution and screening for malnutrition, UNICEF said.
UNICEF Head of Nutrition and Food Security section Dr. Iqbal Kabir stressed that much more needed to be done. "At present, Tigray has just over 500 places within the Therapeutic Feeding Programme throughout the region. For complete coverage we need roughly 14,000 to cope with on-going severe malnutrition needs – that is still a huge gap."
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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UN, PARTNERS EXPLORE WAYS THAT FOOD RELIEF CAN BOOST DEVELOPMENT

UN, PARTNERS EXPLORE WAYS THAT FOOD RELIEF CAN BOOST DEVELOPMENT
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
Grain market experts, economists and policy makers from around the world are meeting in Rome today with United Nations food agencies to explore the best ways to benefit farmers in developing countries through local food procurement.

"There is no doubt that the power of local purchase can benefit not only the hungry, but also the farmers producing the food," said Josette Sheeran Executive Director of the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2498">WFP), which is hosting the meeting.

"We all know that food security requires both access to food and sustainable production. Procurement can provide a vital link between the two at local, regional or international level," she added.

Ms. Sheeran, who held talks last month during a field trip to Ethiopia about local food assistance procurement and its potential for making a positive impact on human development, noted that WFP had a "huge market presence" with its cash-based purchases across the developing world.

Last year, 77 per cent of WFP's food purchases were from developing countries – a total of 1.6 million metric tons at a value of more than $460 million. This shows an increase from 74 per cent in 2005.

WFP priority is to ensure that food is available to beneficiaries in the most timely and cost-efficient manner, but when conditions are equal, it gives preference to procurement from developing countries, the agency said.

When possible, WFP purchases food locally from parts of a country where there is a surplus, for distribution in other parts of that same country where there are shortages.

The agency also purchases food from developing countries with a national surplus for distribution in other countries where there is need, both in the same region and in other parts of the world.

Today's Rome meeting, the first of its kind, is funded by the Belgian and Swedish Governments and will bring together the three UN food agencies – WFP, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – with non-governmental organizations, donor and recipient countries and the private sector.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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UN FOOD AGENCY PANEL SUGGESTS TRADE RESTRICTIONS ON SAWFISH AND EUROPEAN EEL

UN FOOD AGENCY PANEL SUGGESTS TRADE RESTRICTIONS ON SAWFISH AND EUROPEAN EEL
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000569/index.html">FAO) today announced that an expert panel it convened is supporting trade restrictions on sawfish and the European eel.

The proposals have been submitted to the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (<"http://www.cites.org">CITES) in a bid to protect stocks in the wild.

Once a species is listed by CITES, its trade can be banned completely in extreme cases or, in other situations, permitted only if exporters can certify that the species was legally harvested and that trading it will not be detrimental to its survival in the wild, the agency said in a news release.
<pFAO's panel found that populations of sawfish and European eel both have declined significantly from historical highs, that international trade is a key driver in their overexploitation, and that management of these species in the past has typically been poor.

The Convention was established to conserve species whose status is being directly impacted by trade. It is not designed to protect species that are endangered for other reasons.

CITES members will be ruling on proposals to list a number of species when they gather in The Hague next week for the Convention's annual conference of parties.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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CAMBODIA: UN-BACKED PROJECT TO HELP RURAL POOR

CAMBODIA: UN-BACKED PROJECT TO HELP RURAL POOR
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/28.htm">IFAD) has announced that it will support a new $11.5 million development project in Cambodia aimed at helping the rural poor."The project will not only boost incomes, it will also lay foundations for sustainable social and economic development in the future," said Youqiong Wang, IFAD's country programme manager for Cambodia, noting that it is the agency's first to target the poor, ethnic population living in remote areas of the country.

Decades of war and internal strife have made Cambodia one of the world's poorer countries. The three provinces that the project is targeting – Kratie, Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri – are among the poorest in the country, IFAD said in a news release.

The Rural Livelihoods Improvement Project, set to involve 22,600 rural households in the border provinces, will be financed partly by a grant of $9.5 million from IFAD. It will also receive funding from the Government of Cambodia and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY BRIEFS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON AFGHANS IN PAKISTAN

UN REFUGEE AGENCY BRIEFS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON AFGHANS IN PAKISTAN
New York, May 30 2007 3:00PM
Ahead of next week's "Group of Eight" Summit, the Foreign Minister of Germany has received a briefing on the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan from officials of the United Nations agency dealing with their plight.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier travelled to the region to witness the Afghan repatriation from north-western Pakistan.

Last Wednesday, the delegation travelled to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/465c16364.html">UNHCR) voluntary repatriation centre in Peshawar, Pakistan, where the agency's assistant representative, Kilian Kleinschmidt, briefed the German foreign minister about the overall situation.

"Pakistan is home to the world's largest refugee situation, the largest assisted repatriation in modern history and the largest registration of refugees ever conducted," said Mr. Kleinschmidt. "More than 1 million Afghans have been processed by UNHCR through this voluntary repatriation centre in the last six years, which makes it the largest repatriation centre in the world," he noted.

During his visit, the Foreign Minister focused on how the international community and Germany could contribute efficiently to the management of population flows between Pakistan and Afghanistan, UNHCR said.

He took back with him a sample Proof of Registration card issued after the Afghan registration exercise and a biometric border crossing card issued by Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority "to show my colleagues what could be do-able in Pakistan and Afghanistan if we bring them together."

The repatriation of card holders started from April 19 this year and will continue till the end of the year. Some 20,000 registered Afghans have so far chosen to repatriate with UNHCR assistance averaging $100 per person.

The Pakistan Government reiterated that unregistered Afghans would be considered illegal immigrants and would be dealt with under national laws. However, undocumented Afghans were given a six-week window from March to mid-April to repatriate "in safety and dignity" with UNHCR assistance, the agency said. More than 200,000 Afghans repatriated over those six weeks.

Mr. Steinmeier conducted the visit in preparation for the June 6-8 meeting of the G8 leading industrialized nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States – and upcoming European Union foreign minister meetings in Germany.
2007-05-30 00:00:00.000

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