SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES ATTACK AGAINST POLISH AMBASSADOR IN IRAQ

SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES ATTACK AGAINST POLISH AMBASSADOR IN IRAQ
New York, Oct 5 2007 7:00PM
Condemning yesterday's attack in Baghdad on the Polish Ambassador to Iraq, the Security Council today called on the international community to support the Iraqi Government in protecting the diplomatic community, United Nations staff and other foreign civilian personnel.

The Ambassador sustained injuries in the attack, while at least two people were killed – including a member of his personal security detachment team and an Iraqi civilian. Two other people sustained injuries.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9138.doc.htm">presidential statement read out by Ghanaian Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian, who holds the Council's rotating presidency this month, the 15-member body expressed its deepest sympathy and sent condolences to the victims' families and to the Polish Government.

"The Security Council underlines the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this act to justice," Mr. Christian said, calling on all States to cooperate with the Polish and Iraqi Governments.

The Council also reiterated that "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED BY SURGE OF ARRIVALS BY SEA INTO GREECE

UN REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED BY SURGE OF ARRIVALS BY SEA INTO GREECE
New York, Oct 5 2007 6:00PM
The number of asylum-seekers and migrants arriving by boat in Greece has spiked dramatically this year, leading to overcrowding and serious hygiene concerns in the country's detention centres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47060794d.html">UNHCR) said today.

UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva that the average number of people arrested, intercepted or rescued by Greek coastguard officials has been about 3,000 each year since 2002, but already this year there have been nearly 4,500 cases.

He noted that Greek police are reporting even higher arrest figures from just three islands: Samos, Chios and Lesvos, which are all close to the coast of neighbouring Turkey.

The surge in arrivals has led to overcrowding in the detention centres in Samos, Chios and Lesvos, Mr. Redmond said, after that a holding centre in Samos sparked particular concern because of lowered hygiene standards. UNHCR has called for that centre's immediate closure.

"We welcome the announcement by the Interior Ministry of Greece that all persons currently in the old centre will be transferred to a newly-built centre in Samos which will open at the end of this month," he said.

Many of the arrivals are Iraqis, Afghans and Somalis, as well as migrants from other countries in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and South Asia. Some 3,500 Iraqis applied for asylum in Greece in the first six months of the year, the second highest number of any industrialized nation after Sweden, although this figure includes arrivals by land and air as well as by sea.

Mr. Redmond added that the surge in arrivals in Greece coincides with a sharp drop in the number of irregular arrivals by sea into Italy and Spain. In the case of the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain, the numbers have slumped by as much as 60 per cent this year.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION'S MILITARY CHIEF MEETS GOVERNMENT, REBEL LEADERS

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN MISSION'S MILITARY CHIEF MEETS GOVERNMENT, REBEL LEADERS
New York, Oct 5 2007 6:00PM
The military head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI) met this week with Government and former rebel army leaders to discuss aspects of the implementation of the Ouagadougou political accord between rival political groups in the divided West African nation.

Held at UNOCI headquarters in Abidjan, participants at the meeting, including UNOCI Force Commander General Fernand Marcel Amoussou, discussed the structure and work of the Integrated Command Centre, created under the Ouagadougou pact to unify the Ivorian military parties.

Participants also conferred on how the Centre can continue to support the ongoing pre-election identification scheme.

The Ouagadougou agreement, reached in March this year, sets out a series of measures to deal with the political divide between the Government, which controls the south of the country, and Forces Nouvelles, which has held the north since 2002.

UNOCI was set up in 2004 with a mandate to monitor the cessation of hostilities between the warring parties and, among other goals, to contribute "to the security of the operations of identification of the population and registration of voters" and support "the organization of open, free, fair and transparent elections."

As of the end of August, the mission had a strength of nearly 9,200 uniformed personnel, including almost 8,000 troops and over 1,130 police.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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UNDP CHIEF KICKS OFF AFRICA VISIT TO SPUR ACTION ON GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS

UNDP CHIEF KICKS OFF AFRICA VISIT TO SPUR ACTION ON GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS
New York, Oct 5 2007 6:00PM
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/">UNDP) today started a 10-day trip to Africa to jump-start renewed efforts to assist countries that are not on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs), eight targets to slash poverty and other ills by 2015.

UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis noted that although the leadership necessary to achieve the MDGs must come from within the continent, African countries need the support of international organizations and development partners.

During his trip, Mr. Dervis will stop in Mozambique, Rwanda and Tanzania, three of the four African "One UN" pilot countries.

The "One UN" programme, launched earlier this year, is designed to better coordinate UN operations and accelerate progress towards the MDGs through grouping various UN agencies, funds and programmes operating in each country together under one leader, programme and budget to maximize efficiency and opportunities.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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REGISTRAR AT UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SOUNDS ALARM OVER HEALTH OF GENOCIDE SUSPECT

REGISTRAR AT UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SOUNDS ALARM OVER HEALTH OF GENOCIDE SUSPECT
New York, Oct 5 2007 6:00PM
A Bosnian Serb former army officer who is facing genocide and other war crimes charges over his role in the 1995 massacre of more than 7,000 Muslims at Srebrenica is refusing medical treatment, putting his life in danger, the Registrar of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY) warned today.

Hans Holthuis filed a submission to the Tribunal's trial chamber calling on judges "to take all appropriate measures" to assess the health of Zdravko Tolimir, 58, and determine whether he is still capable of representing himself.

Mr. Tolimir, who served as Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb army and reported directly to the notorious chief Ratko Mladic, who remains at large, has been indicted on charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination, murder, persecutions, forcible transfer and deportation.

Prosecutors allege that Mr. Tolimir has responsibility for the murder of thousands of Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in July 1995, when the town was supposed to be a UN-protected area. The indictment also accuses him of making life unbearable for the civilian residents of Srebrenica and Žepa and forcing them to leave the protected areas.

Mr. Tolimir was involved in the murder of Bosnian Muslim prisoners being held in temporary locations around eastern Bosnia in 1995, the indictment states, including the summary execution of more than 1,700 men and boys by an army detachment at the Branjevo Military Farm and the Pilica Cultural Centre.

Mr. Holthuis said today that the ICTY registry had assessed Mr. Tolimir's health to be "grave, fragile and highly alarming," exacerbated by his refusal to cooperate with physicians, accept medical treatment or take prescribed medicines since being transferred to the Tribunal's custody in June.

Mr. Tolimir had been on the run for two years before he was detained by authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 May.

He has a "significant aneurism in his brain," Mr. Holthuis said in the submission, describing it as "an inoperable, high-risk condition which can be controlled to some extent by appropriate medications aimed at keeping the Accused's blood pressure low."

Mr. Tolimir also suffers from a serious heart condition, has indications of long-term high blood pressure, previously experienced heart attacks and arteriosclerosis, and "may have suffered from a small number of minor strokes."

"There is a very real and serious risk of the Accused experiencing a life-threatening episode at any time and without warning," Mr. Holthuis said, adding that the situation has been complicated by Mr. Tolimir's stated plan to represent himself during the trial.

"The stresses involved in running a trial are certain to have a detrimental impact on the Accused's medical situation," Mr. Holthuis said.

He noted that Mr. Tolimir has given various reasons for his refusal of medical care, ranging from religious belief to an assertion that he is in good health.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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MYANMAR SHOULD TAKE 'BOLD ACTIONS' TOWARDS DEMOCRACY, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

MYANMAR SHOULD TAKE 'BOLD ACTIONS' TOWARDS DEMOCRACY, SAYS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Oct 5 2007 5:00PM
Myanmar needs to take major steps towards democratizing, protecting human rights and accelerating its national reconciliation process, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling authorities' recent use of force against peaceful demonstrators in the Asian country "abhorrent and unacceptable."

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11208.doc.htm">Addressing a Security Council meeting, which also heard a briefing from his Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari on his visit to Myanmar earlier this week, Mr. Ban said it was time for a serious and comprehensive dialogue between the Government and the political opposition.

"Now, more than ever before, the Government of Myanmar should take bold actions towards democratization and respect for human rights," he said. "The national reconciliation process must be accelerated and be made as broad-based, inclusive and transparent as possible."

Both Mr. Ban and Mr. Gambari welcomed news that Senior General Than Shwe has is prepared to meet the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, albeit with certain conditions.

"This is a potentially welcome development which calls for maximum flexibility on all sides," Mr. Gambari said, adding that it was vital the meeting take as soon as possible.

The Secretary-General and his Special Adviser told the Council they were deeply concerned by recent events, amid reports of continued human rights violations by authorities in the wake of the protests.

Mr. Gambari <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9136.doc.htm">said both security forces and non-uniformed elements are reported to have carried out abuses, especially during the nightly curfews, including arbitrary arrests, disappearances, beatings, raids of private homes, the blockading of monasteries and the mass relocation of monks outside Yangon, the country's biggest city.

The Government told Mr. Gambari that 2,095 people arrested because of the protests have been released, including 728 monks, and that more releases will follow. The curfew in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay has been relaxed as well.

Although some restrictions have been eased and some military forces have been withdrawn, Mr. Ban stressed that "the overall situation still remains of serious concern, especially with regard to the unknown predicament of the large number of individuals who were arrested without due process."

He called for the immediate release of all those in detention because of the protests.

Mr. Ban and Mr. Gambari also emphasized the need for sustained support from the region and the wider international community, including the United Nations, to help in advancing the cause of democratization and economic development.

Mr. Gambari told Council members that senior Government officials informed him that the demonstrations had been instigated by minority elements opposed to the Government and largely limited to Yangon and Mandalay. They also said the authorities had acted with "the utmost restraint" and that those detained would soon be released after investigations had been completed.

"It is clear, however, that the demonstrations over the past few weeks are for the most part the expression of deep and widespread discontent about socio-economic conditions in the country," the Special Adviser said.

He noted that poverty is accelerating across Myanmar and the country's social service structures are increasingly unable to meet the basic needs of the population. The average household now has to spend as much as 69 per cent of its budget on food consumption because of the rising prices of basic items.

Mr. Gambari added that while the protests followed a sudden spike in fuel prices in mid-August, they also contained an important political dynamic.

"What is clear is that since 1988, the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar have been systematically denied by the Government in the name of stability and security."

He warned that unless the Government opens up its process of national reconciliation, "the demands for greater inclusiveness, participation and transparency, and for an acceleration of the transition to democracy and civilian rule, are likely to continue."

Mr. Ban said it was too early to say whether Mr. Gambari's mission had been a success or not, but it appeared "that a window of opportunity has opened, and it is vital that the Government of Myanmar responds positively."

The Security Council then held closed consultations with Mr. Gambari after the initial open meeting on his visit.

Earlier, Mr. Gambari also briefed General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim, who voiced "grave concern" at the situation and condemned the use of force to resolve the situation.

Mr. Kerim also called on the Government to ensure that all representatives of political groups and ethnic minorities can participate fully in the national reconciliation and political transition processes, including the drafting of the constitution, according to a statement released by his spokesman.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: UN ENVOY HAILS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT MOVES ON POLITICAL INCLUSION

SOMALIA: UN ENVOY HAILS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT MOVES ON POLITICAL INCLUSION
New York, Oct 5 2007 5:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Somalia today hailed a decision by the country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to endorse the recommendations of the recently concluded National Reconciliation Congress on political inclusion.

UN Special Representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah issued a statement in Nairobi saying the move "should pave the way for greater inclusion of Somalis from a larger political spectrum."

Mr. Ould-Abdallah commended this decision as a first step towards national reconciliation and urged the TFG to go further by extending the mandate of the National Governance and Reconciliation Committee as soon as possible.

The statement voiced hope that by allowing the Committee to continue the national reconciliation process, the TFG will prepare the ground for serious talks between Somalis inside and outside the country.

The international community, the envoy said, should "support this helpful move."

Held in Mogadishu during July and August, the National Reconciliation Congress aimed to foster internal coherence in Somalia, which has had no functioning government since Muhammad Siad Barre's regime was toppled in 1991.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY APPEALS FOR 'HUMANITARIAN' VISAS FOR IRAQIS FLEEING TO SYRIA

UN REFUGEE AGENCY APPEALS FOR 'HUMANITARIAN' VISAS FOR IRAQIS FLEEING TO SYRIA
New York, Oct 5 2007 2:00PM
Responding to Syria's strict adherence to new visa restrictions for Iraqis wishing to enter the country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/470607922.html">UNHCR) today urged the creation of a "humanitarian" visa for Iraqis fleeing violence in their homeland.

Since visa restrictions were imposed on Monday, only Iraqis with visas for commercial, transport, scientific and education purposes have been successful in crossing the border to Syria, UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

To apply for these visas, Iraqis must apply at the Syrian Embassy in the Al Mansour district of Baghdad. "Refugees have highlighted their concern that Al Mansour district is the scene of frequent violence, and not an area that large groups of people should gather," Mr. Redmond said.

In many instances, a Syrian sponsoring organization, such as the Syrian Chamber of Commerce, is necessary to procure a visa to enter the country.

Syria has stated that the visa restrictions are a result of the massive pressure placed on the country as it hosts over 1.4 million Iraqi refugees. "UNHCR continues to appeal for increased bilateral support to Syria so it can continue to support the Iraqi refugees living in the country – and hopefully offer refuge for those Iraqis that need to flee Iraq in the future," Mr. Redmond said.

Since the new restrictions took effect, the number of phone calls to UNHCR in Damascus has doubled, with the agency having counselled either in person or over the phone hundreds of Iraqi refugees living in Syria regarding concerns over their residency status.

"From discussions with Government officials, UNHCR understands that Iraqi refugees currently living in Syria will not be forcibly returned to Iraq," Mr. Redmond noted.

But Iraqi refugees are worried about their status after their visas expire. In the past, the documents could be renewed at the Syrian border for three months, and UNHCR said it hopes that Syria can establish such offices within the country for refugees to renew their visas.

In a related development, UNHCR said the second group of Palestinians – who were forced to flee their homes in Iraq – from Ruwayshed camp in Jordan let yesterday for resettlement in Brazil. Almost 40 Palestinians, who have been living in harsh conditions for more than four years, left behind 37 others who will join them in South America later this month.

All 108 Palestinian inhabitants of Ruwayshed camp will move to Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul regions, where they will receive accommodation, furniture, material and employment assistance, as well as Portuguese language classes.

"UNHCR is very appreciative of Brazil's offer for humanitarian resettlement," Mr. Redmond said.

Meanwhile, UNHCR continues to appeal for urgent solutions for over 1,750 Palestinians are still stranded in Al Waleed and Al Tanf border camps and are living in dire conditions.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON DISAPPOINTED BY DELAY TO NEPALESE ELECTIONS

BAN KI-MOON DISAPPOINTED BY DELAY TO NEPALESE ELECTIONS
New York, Oct 5 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced disappointment at the decision of Nepal's interim Government to postpone Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for next month, stressing that the people of the Himalayan country deserve their opportunity to express their political aspirations.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2785">statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban strongly urged the Seven-Party Alliance which comprises the interim coalition Government "to redouble efforts so that outstanding issues can be expeditiously resolved and the election held very soon."

On Monday, Nepal's Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan had told the General Assembly's annual high-level debate that the Government had been engaged in dialogue with the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) to ensure that the polls would be held on schedule on 22 November.

But media reports today say the elections were delayed because of ongoing disputes between the Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists.

The elections had already been postponed from June because of technical problems and then the onset of the monsoon season.

Once elected, the Constituent Assembly will draft a new constitution for Nepal, where an estimated 13,000 people were killed during the decade-long civil conflict that came to a formal end when the Government and the Maoists signed a peace accord late last year.

Mr. Ban's statement noted that "the people of Nepal have demonstrated their desire for peace and the stakes are too high to allow manageable differences to deny their aspirations."

He added that the UN remained committed to assisting to establish a durable peace in Nepal. A UN mission (known as UNMIN) is in place to help shepherd the country through the post-conflict transition process.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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PLANNING GUIDE FOR PALLIATIVE CARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS RELEASED BY UN AGENCY

PLANNING GUIDE FOR PALLIATIVE CARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS RELEASED BY UN AGENCY
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np31/en/index.html">WHO) today unveiled its first guide explaining the range of palliative care services available for the millions of people across the world living with advanced stages of cancer.

Aimed at public health planners, particularly in developing countries, the guide provides information on how to devise the most effective methods of providing palliative care, including details of low-cost public health models.

WHO's Director for Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, Benedetto Saraceno, said simple and low-cost models can be adopted in ways that reach the majority of the population, even in poor countries where most cases are not diagnosed until the late stages of cancer.

"These models consider the integration of palliative care services in the existing health system, with a special emphasis on community- and home-based care," he said.

Palliative care focuses on providing pain relief and management of often distressing or debilitating symptoms to patients facing life-threatening illnesses, improving their quality of life.

WHO reports that preliminary estimates indicate that every year as many 4.8 million people who suffer moderate to severe pain as a result of cancer do not receive any treatment.

"Everyone has a right to be treated, and die, with dignity," said Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. "The relief of pain – physical, emotional, spiritual and social – is a human right."

Dr. Le Galès-Camus said this was particularly important in poor countries, where diagnoses are often made so late that treatment is no longer effective and palliative care is the only option.

More than 70 per cent of all deaths from cancer occur in developing countries, which have limited resources for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Worldwide, some 7.6 million people died from cancer in 2005.

WHO projects that the number of deaths from cancer will keep rising, up to an estimated 9 million in 2015 and 11.4 million by 2030.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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SURGING WHEAT PRICES PUSH STAPLE PRODUCTS OUT OF REACH OF POOR - UN AGENCY

SURGING WHEAT PRICES PUSH STAPLE PRODUCTS OUT OF REACH OF POOR – UN AGENCY
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00PM
International wheat prices have hit record highs during the past three months, pushing the domestic price of bread and other basic foods in poor countries beyond the reach of many locals, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000674/index.html">FAO) announced today.

The latest issue of the FAO Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, released at the agency's headquarters in Rome, found that wheat prices have risen sharply since June because of tightening global supplies, historically low levels of stocks and sustained demand.

Maize prices have also jumped, despite this year's bumper crop in North, Central and South America, because of continuing strong demand from the biofuels industry.

Paul Racionzer of the FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System warned that cereal stocks, especially of wheat, are likely to remain at historically low levels for the foreseeable future. Wheat stocks are close to their lowest levels in 25 years.

"On current indications, this year's cereal harvest would only just meet expected utilization levels in the coming year, which means that stocks will not be replenished," he said.

The higher export prices for wheat – and other cereal crops – and surging freight rates have forced the price of bread and other products beyond the means of many people in the States classified as low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs), leading to social unrest in some areas.

The total cereal import bill for LIFDCs is forecast to hit an all-time high of $28 billion in 2007-08, a rise of 14 per cent on last year's figures. In total, developing countries are likely to spend $52 billion on cereal imports.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS MAIN OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING EDUCATION FOR ALL - UN

SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS MAIN OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING EDUCATION FOR ALL – UN
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00PM
It will not be possible to meet the goal of providing quality education for all children by 2015 without an additional 18 million new teachers worldwide – 4 million in Africa alone – the United Nations said today on the occasion of <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=39607&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">World Teacher's Day.

The growing shortage of qualified teachers is the main challenge to the realization of international education targets, including the Millennium Development Goals (<" http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals">MDGs), the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said in a message issued to mark the Day.

"But the challenge is more than one of just numbers," Director-General Koichiro Matsuura added. "The quality of teachers and teaching is also essential to good learning outcomes.

In the <" http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001534/153481e.pdf">message, which is co-signed by the heads of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the organization Education International, Mr. Matsuura noted that in many countries not all children are able to go to school or learn basic skills since there are simply not enough teachers.

"This has negative outcomes not only for the future of individual children, but also for the development of whole societies," he added.

To address the shortage of qualified teachers in Afghanistan, <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41120.html">UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Education in training personnel, developing curriculum and establishing teachers training colleges.

"These colleges are designed to help redress years of underinvestment in teachers training which has led to a marked decline in number of teachers and teaching standards," the agency said in a press release.

UNICEF's efforts in the war-torn nation include strategies for increasing the number of female teachers, who were barred during the Taliban's rule from practicing their profession.

"The drive to improve the numbers of female teachers and improve standards of teaching is important step in ensuring that girls continue to return to the classroom, and to reduce risk of drop-out amongst pupils already enrolled," said Catherine Mbengue, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, to mark World Teacher's Day, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (<" http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/statements/2007/WorldTeacherDay_Oct07.html">UNRWA) has released a new study which finds that violence, occupation, closures and poverty are having a dire effect on the schooling of Palestinian refugee children.

The agency's education programme serves over half a million students in three countries and the occupied Palestinian territory. The study shows that in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, the performance of children in UNRWA schools compares favourably with that of their peers in Government-run schools, in spite of limited resources.

In the Gaza Strip, the study reveals a "worrying" rate of failure in Mathematics and Arabic in UNRWA schools, according to an agency press release. In response to the study, UNRWA is pursuing efforts to improve educational standards in Gaza, including hiring more than 1,500 new classroom assistants and building a new teacher training college.

"The cumulative impact of years of violence and closures, of disrupted schooling and endemic poverty is clear from the stark exam results of Gaza's schoolchildren," John Ging, Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, stated.

"In spite of the challenging environment, we are determined to ensure that our reforms and our drive for excellence in UNRWA schools will be successful," he added.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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GUINEA: UN FUND'S $10 MILLION GRANT TO HELP POOR RURAL FAMILIES

GUINEA: UN FUND'S $10 MILLION GRANT TO HELP POOR RURAL FAMILIES
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00PM
A development project in Guinea has received a $10 million grant from the UN International Fund for Agriculture Development (<" http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/41.htm">IFAD) as part of efforts to provide poor rural families in the West African nation with better access to schools, healthcare and drinking water.

The initiative, known as the Village Communities Support Project – Phase II, will also bolster rural producers' access to markets and increase local governments' abilities to allow communities to plan and manage their own services in Guinea, which is classified as a highly vulnerable and indebted country.

In addition to the $10 million provided by IFAD, the Guinean Government and other organizations will contribute towards the programme, which has a $56 million price tag.

"The project's long-term goal is for communities and their local governments to be able to identify, plan, prioritize, build and manage their own infrastructure and service needs," said Luyaku Nsimpasi, IFAD's country programme manager for Guinea.

"With better access to school and health facilities and the increased capacity of local government leaders, Guinea's rural people will be able to increase their incomes and to support development in their communities."

To date, IFAD loans and grants totaling $141 million have gone towards financing one dozen programmes and projects in Guinea.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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PRESTIGIOUS UN HONORS AWARDED TO DISASTER PREVENTION EXPERTS

PRESTIGIOUS UN HONORS AWARDED TO DISASTER PREVENTION EXPERTS
New York, Oct 5 2007 12:00PM
A Japanese professor who educates both the Government and the public on practical skills for disaster risk reduction and an engineer from Grenada and Barbados focusing on building safety are recipients of this year's prestigious United Nations <" http://www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/2007/sk-2007-descripction-eng.htm">Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction.

"The award <" http://www.unisdr.org/eng/media-room/press-release/2007/pr-2007-12-sasakawa.pdf">recognizes the efforts of these individuals – both trained as engineers – to communicate effectively on hazard and risk-related issues with a wide range of stakeholders including social scientists, engineers, architects and decision-makers as well as the general public," said Salvano Briceño, director of the Geneva-based secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).

"Their ability to bridge the gaps between science and practice has brought disaster risk reduction closer to people's daily's lives."

Kyoto University Professor Yoshiaki Kawata, who specializes in disaster risk reduction, has been selected for the honor for his promotion of research and knowledge about past disasters.

According to the ISDR, he has highlighted the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin Awaji, or Kobe, Earthquake which took over 6,400 lives and is one of the most devastating earthquakes in Japanese history.

Mr. Kawata has dedicated much of the past three decades raising public awareness of disasters; in 2002, he founded the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution and established the Kobe Disaster Reduction Museum to educate both the public and local governments in practical knowledge and skills.

A pioneer in advancing safe architectural and designs to resist natural hazards, Tony Gibbs works as an advisor for the UN and the Pan American Health Organization (<" http://www.unisdr.org/eng/media-room/press-release/2007/pr-2007-12-sasakawa.pdf">PAHO) Disaster Mitigation Advisory Group on hospital safety.

He has made significant contribution to hazard awareness and disaster risk reduction n the Caribbean and throughout the Americas, according to ISDR. He has also focused on designing structures to protect hospitals against wind and earthquakes, influencing standards and advances in building design worldwide.

Aside from these achievements, Mr. Gibbs is also being awarded the prize for his advocacy and leadership role in sharing knowledge with engineers, architects, builders and the public.

A Sasakawa Certificate of Distinction was also awarded to ActionAid International, a South African non-governmental organization (NGO) for its role in incorporating disaster risk reduction and the Hyogo Framework – which offers a number of concrete steps to make communities and nations more resilient to any type of disaster – into is sustainable development activities.

The Social Action Centre in the Philippines, La Red Habitat en Riesgo in Argentina and the South African Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme are being recognized for their efforts with Sasakawa Certificates of Merit.

The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction, along with the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en">WHO) Sasakawa Health Prize and the UN Environment Programme (<" http://www.unep.org">UNEP) Sasakawa Environment Prize, was established in 1986 by the Nippon Foundation in Japan. Laureates are selected by the UN Sasakawa jury, comprising representatives from the five continents.
2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN AGENCY CONCERNED AT MILITARY BUILDUP IN NORTH KIVU

DR CONGO: UN AGENCY CONCERNED AT MILITARY BUILDUP IN NORTH KIVU
New York, Oct 5 2007 10:00AM
As civilians in the troubled North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to flee their homes, the United Nations refugee agency today warned that the humanitarian disaster there could worsen if a military build-up the volatile area leads to more intensified fighting.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that some 5,000 internally displaced people sought refuge at nearby sites over the past week, taking advantage of a lull in the fighting between government forces, renegade troops and rebels. "Some had walked for days to reach the sites," agency spokesman Ron Redmond told a press briefing in Geneva.

The estimated total of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Mugunga area has now surpassed 80,000. UN agencies and non-governmental organizations say over 370,000 IDPs are though to have been displaced in North Kivu since December 2006.

"The numbers of displaced are rising with the new arrivals at the camp sites, but also as aid workers in the field discover more groups of displaced people," Mr. Redmond explained.

He said the agency is "increasingly concerned over the build-up of forces and military supplies in North Kivu," especially the reported recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups across North Kivu. "We fear new clashes would lead to thousands of people being displaced, plunging the province into an even worse humanitarian disaster."

Following a visit to the area to improve conditions in overstretched IDP camps, a seven-member UNHCR emergency team is now preparing a new site with the capacity to host 10,000 people.

"The new site will help decongest makeshift sites at Lac Vert and Ndosho," said Mr. Redmond. "Conditions at the makeshift sites in the Mugunga area are dire and are deteriorating as more fleeing Congolese arrive. Tensions are mounting among the displaced and two days ago our team could not visit these sites due to safety concerns for the staff."

The agency is working with its non-governmental partners to register displaced in the area in a bid to establish more precise numbers to better plan for aid distributions.

2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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KENYA: WASTE DUMP POSES HEALTH HAZARD TO CHILDREN, UN AGENCY WARNS

KENYA: WASTE DUMP POSES HEALTH HAZARD TO CHILDREN, UN AGENCY WARNS
New York, Oct 5 2007 9:00AM
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today warned that a large waste dump located in Kenya is posing a serious threat to children living nearby and pledged its assistance to help reduce the hazard.

Citing the results of a study it commissioned of 328 children up to the age of 18 around the Dandora Municipal Dumping Site, the agency said half had concentrations of lead in their blood exceeding internationally accepted levels, while 42 per cent of soil samples recorded lead levels almost 10 times higher than what is considered unpolluted soil. Almost half of the children tested were suffering from respiratory diseases, including chronic bronchitis and asthma.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the results were worse than expected. "We had anticipated some tough and worrisome findings, but the actual results are even more shocking than we had imagined at the outset," he said.

He also drew broader conclusions about problems of waste management in poor countries. "The Dandora site may pose some special challenges for the city of Nairobi and Kenya as a nation. But it is also a mirror to the condition of rubbish sites across many parts of Africa and other urban centres of the developing world."

Mr. Steiner said UNEP stands ready to assist the local and national authorities in the search for improved waste management systems and strategies including ones that generate sustainable and healthier jobs in the waste-handling and recycling sectors.

The 30-acre large Dandora dumping site receives 2,000 tonnes of rubbish every day, including plastics, rubber and lead paint treated wood, generated by some 4.5 million people living in the Kenyan capital. The study also found evidence of the presence of hazardous waste, such as chemical and hospital waste, on the dumpsite.

Every day, scores of people, including children, from the nearby slums and low-income residential areas use the dump to find food, recyclabl
and other valuables they can sell as a source of income, at the same time inhaling the noxious fumes from routine waste burning and methane fires, UNEP said.

"We have been witnessing an alarming situation regarding Dandora children's health: asthma, anaemia and skin infections are by now endemic. These abnormalities are linked to the environment around the dumping site, and are exacerbated by poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition. Since waste dumping is unrestricted and unmanaged, people are also at risk from contracting blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS," said Njoroge Kimani, principal investigator and author of the report.

According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), a quarter of all diseases affecting humankind are attributable to environmental risks with children more vulnerable than adults. Among children under age five, environmentally-related illnesses are responsible for more than 4.7 million deaths annually. Twenty-five per cent of deaths in developing countries are related to environmental factors, compared with 17 per cent of deaths in the developed world.

"The children of Dandora, Kenya, Africa and the world deserve better than this. We can no longer afford rubbish solutions to the waste management crisis faced in far too many cities, especially in the developing world," said Mr. Steiner.

2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED MEETING CALLS FOR MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT

UN-BACKED MEETING CALLS FOR MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00AM
A United Nations-backed meeting on mountains has forged a consensus among over 60 representatives from governments, civil society and international organizations on the need for a more coherent approach to sustainable agriculture and rural development in the world's highland areas.

This call came a statement issued at the close of the third meeting of the Adelboden Group for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions held 1-3 October at the Rome headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Physically isolated and socially and politically marginalized, mountain populations are among the most vulnerable in the world, FAO said in a news release, noting that 840 million chronically undernourished people live in highland areas and about 270 million mountain people lack food security, with 135 million suffering chronic hunger.

"Higher priority should be given to mountain issues in national, regional and global policymaking either through incorporating mountain specific requirements into general policies or through specific mountain policies," the Group said in a statement read at the end of its meeting.

Governments with mountain regions were urged to better integrate mountain areas into national economies and foster economic diversification in highland regions by helping farmers, craftsmen and foresters add value to their products.

The group also stressed the need to provide policy support to indigenous mountain communities, whose traditional local knowledge and know-how often help conserve the mountain environment and biodiversity and represent a sustainable approach to highland agriculture.

Established in June 2002 in Adelboden, Switzerland, the group serves as a forum for discussion of policies, exchanges of experience, and coordinated planning. It also acts as an advisory board for FAO's project on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Region

2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO ADVANCES IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION -- BAN KI-MOON

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO ADVANCES IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION -- BAN KI-MOON
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00AM
Partnerships between governments and the private sector are key to fostering developing in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to more than half the world's people and accounts for a quarter of international trade, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

"Beyond the accountability of Governments to their electorate, and the responsibility of companies to their shareholders, we have a joint mission to give citizens of this region the tools to create their own prosperity," Mr. Ban said in a message to the Ministerial Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development, being held in Seoul with support from the Republic of Korea Government and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

He also emphasized the importance of global antipoverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by "developing adequate infrastructure for transport, energy, water and health services."

That, in turn, "requires investments, goods and expertise that cannot be provided by the public sector alone," he pointed out.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the financial requirements for infrastructure development are estimated at $200 billion per year over the next five years. "Today, we see can see public-private partnerships enabling businesses around the world to actively and productively contribute to critical infrastructure projects," the Secretary-General said.

He emphasized the importance of transparency and trust in this process, and noted that through the UN Global Compact -- "the world's largest corporate citizenship initiative" -- the world body is working with business, governments and civil society to "advance notions of corporate responsibility, thereby establishing an atmosphere of accountability and trust that allows for more collaborative solution-finding."

2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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UN INITIATIVE BRINGS IRAQIS AND JORDANIANS TOGETHER DURING RAMADAN

UN INITIATIVE BRINGS IRAQIS AND JORDANIANS TOGETHER DURING RAMADAN
New York, Oct 5 2007 1:00AM
Since the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the United Nations refugee agency has distributed free meals every evening to more than 800 Iraqi refugees and needy locals in Jordan.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners are trying to assist in various areas, including nutrition, health and education. The Ramadan soup kitchens are one way to ensure that people are getting a daily meal and honouring traditional Islamic practice.

"The Ramadan tents and meal distribution show the increase in the level of vulnerability among Iraqis, but also among Jordanians who are being affected by the large presence of Iraqis," said Imran Riza, UNHCR's representative in Jordan. He said the locals needed to be helped too.

Some among the estimated 750,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan have financial resources and are self-sufficient, but even greater numbers are running out of money and valuables to trade, according to UNHCR, which warned in a news release that they are finding it hard to make ends meet and to feed themselves.

The needs of these vulnerable Iraqi refugees have put an enormous strain on already overstretched public services in Jordan. The situation is the same in neighbouring Syria, where some 1.4 million Iraqis have fled, and in other host countries, which need international help to cope with the unexpected pressure, the agency said.

The Iraqi refugees who spoke to UNHCR were all grateful to Jordan, but many said their lives here were becoming increasingly difficult. Saib, who fled Baghdad last year after he was threatened, thanked Jordan for offering a safe haven.

"However, my daughter is always ill here, I have no job and my other daughter refuses to study or attend school anymore," he said. "Life is becoming too difficult here and I can no longer face my family. Sometimes I don't have money to feed them anymore and I feel lost," he added.

Saib is among more than 4 million people wh
their homes in Iraq. The UN refugee agency estimates that more than 2.2 million have taken refuge overseas, including the hundreds of thousands in Jordan.

UNHCR has started a monthly food distribution for more than 1,500 Iraqi families in Amman and will soon extend this to Zarqa and Irbid. Meanwhile, UNHCR and sister agencies last month issued an appeal for $84.8 million to help host countries meet the health and nutrition needs of Iraqi refugees.

2007-10-05 00:00:00.000

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FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FLOWS PROJECTED TO RISE IN NEXT THREE YEARS - UN

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FLOWS PROJECTED TO RISE IN NEXT THREE YEARS – UN
New York, Oct 4 2007 6:00PM
Foreign direct investment flows are expected to increase in the next three years, despite worries over worldwide financial instability and some countries' protectionist measures, according to the latest United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (<"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/webflyer.asp?docid=9051&intItemID=1528&lang=1">UNCTAD) survey on global investment prospects, which was released today.

More than two-thirds of the 192 respondents – among the world's largest transnational corporations – said they plan to raise FDI expenditure levels every year from 2007 to 2009.

As a result of continued economic growth worldwide, high profitability and the availability of external finance, FDI is projected to increase in all sectors and home countries.

FDI growth will be primarily driven by access to large and growing markets, according to a majority of respondents to the "UNCTAD World Investment Prospects Survey 2007-2009." The corporations participating in the survey also cited access to resources, especially skilled labour, and access to low-cost labour as reasons to increase FDI.

Three risks – geopolitical, financial instability and protectionism – could potentially hinder their FDI expansion, and over 80 per cent of respondents said these factors are either "important" or "extremely important."

The survey also found that an increasing number of corporations will consider investing in areas outside their home regions, such as emerging markets in Asia and Europe. China and India were mentioned as the top two locations by the respondents while Viet Nam ranked sixth.

North America and Western Europe remain the top priority locations for the transnational corporations, with the United States coming in third and the United Kingdom and Germany also in the top 10. Poland is a rising destination in Europe.

Russia ranked fourth for investment among corporations, underscoring investors' rising preference in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Meanwhile, in Latin America, Brazil and Mexico were among the top 10 most favoured locations for FDI.

UNCTAD has been surveying FDI prospects since 1995.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN MISSION HELPS IN RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER DEADLY AIRPLANE CRASH

DR CONGO: UN MISSION HELPS IN RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER DEADLY AIRPLANE CRASH
New York, Oct 4 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is taking part in rescue operations after a commercial aircraft crashed into a residential area of the capital, Kinshasa, earlier today.

The mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, reports that 25 people were killed in the crash and many others have been injured.

UN spokesperson Michele Montas said MONUC has provided fire-fighting equipment and has also helped evacuate victims from the crash site, while UN photographers are documenting the extent of the damage.

She said UN humanitarian agencies also remain at the scene to provide further assistance to Congolese authorities, who are launching an investigation into the accident.

Meanwhile, MONUC issued a statement today condemning Sunday's arrest and the subsequent treatment of three magistrates by soldiers operating under the command of a regional military commander in the city of Kisangani.

The three men were beaten violently when arrested at their homes and, while one was able to escape, the other two were held at a military centre overnight and treated so badly that they had to seek hospital care.

In the statement the Mission called for an investigation into the commander, General Jean-Claude Kifwa, and his subordinates, and demanded their immediate suspension. The statement also called for Congolese authorities to take all measures to guarantee independent justice in the country, which is trying to rebuild after a brutal civil war.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY TO BRIEF SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MYANMAR VISIT

UN ENVOY TO BRIEF SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MYANMAR VISIT
New York, Oct 4 2007 4:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be briefed later today by his Special Envoy for Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, who has just returned from the region following discussions with senior Government officials and the Nobel laureate and political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr. Gambari plans to inform the President of the General Assembly and the members of the Security Council about his visit tomorrow, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

The Secretary-General dispatched Mr. Gambari to the region last week in response to the deteriorating situation in Myanmar which has seen a wave of peaceful protests in recent weeks and amid reports of the use of force against demonstrators.

While in Myanmar, the Special Envoy met with Senior General Than Shwe and other members of the senior leadership, as well as Ms. Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past 12 years.

Mr. Gambari also discussed developments in Myanmar with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister George Yeo of Singapore, both of whom expressed the strong support of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for his mission.

Asked by reporters yesterday if he was satisfied with the results of Mr. Gambari's visit, Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1085">said: "We are doing what we must do. And I was relatively relieved that he was, first of all, able to meet with the leaders of the Myanmar Government as well as Madame Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The concerns of the international community have been clearly and loudly conveyed to the Myanmar authorities," he stated.

In addition, Mr. Ban said that his envoy "was assured of his second visit in November sometime."

At the same time, the Secretary-General expressed his continuing concerns about the ongoing situation in Myanmar, including the human rights situation which he said is one of the "top concerns of the international community."

Meanwhile, a staff member serving with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and her family, who were arrested by the Myanmar authorities yesterday, have been released, Ms. Montas said.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECLARATION TO STRENGTHEN INTER-KOREAN COOPERATION

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECLARATION TO STRENGTHEN INTER-KOREAN COOPERATION
New York, Oct 4 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing in Pyongyang by the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea of a declaration to bolster cooperation between the two countries and promote peace and security in the region.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2782">statement, he characterized the agreement on the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity as a "major step forward to enhance inter-Korean cooperation as well as peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."

Mr. Ban praised the two leaders' "commitment to expand and advance inter-Korean relations, as well as to move towards permanent peace on a non-nuclear Peninsula through increased bilateral dialogue, cooperation and multilateral diplomacy including the six-party talks."

He also pledged the UN's support to the process, in concert with the international community.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General said he was encouraged by the announcement at the six-party talks – involving the DPRK, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States – on the next phase in achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

"Given the vital importance of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, these efforts deserve strong support from the international community in order to maintain the current momentum," he noted in a statement released yesterday.

In February, an agreement was reached during six-party talks on dismantling the DPRK's nuclear weapons facilities.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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LIBERIA BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR UN PEACEBUILDING FUND

LIBERIA BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR UN PEACEBUILDING FUND
New York, Oct 4 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today that Liberia is the fifth country to become eligible for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, set up a year ago to help States emerging from conflict consolidate their gains and not slide back into war.

Mr. Ban also instructed the UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmil/index.html">UNMIL) to start consultations with the Liberian Government and local civil society partners in the West African country to devise a priority plan, his spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

That plan is expected to list key activities to push forward the consolidation of peace in Liberia, which was torn apart by civil war for most of the period between 1989 and 2003.

Susanne Frueh of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office, which manages the Fund, said countries can become eligible in one of three ways: as a result of a declaration by the Secretary-General, by being under consideration by the Peacebuilding Commission, or to specific country projects through the Fund's emergency mechanism.

The Fund is a multi-year standing trust fund that has an initial funding target of $250 million and so far has collected deposits worth almost $144 million from donor countries.

To date, it has approved grants of more than $46 million to 21 projects in Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two countries under formal consideration by the related UN Peacebuilding Commission. It has also spent $700,000 in emergency funds to support dialogue between Côte d'Ivoire's opposing political forces and $800,000 to back mediation efforts in the troubled Central African Republic (CAR).
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION ON INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ADVANCES VALUES - PRESIDENT

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION ON INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ADVANCES VALUES – PRESIDENT
New York, Oct 4 2007 1:00PM
The General Assembly today convened its first-ever high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural understanding in a move the 192-member body's president termed a step forward for advancing the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

"By convening this event, the General Assembly has taken an important stand," Srgjan Kerim told participants. "We are reaffirming the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But more importantly, we are taking concrete steps to advance these values around the world."

The Assembly President, who convened the two-day session, called for a sustained international effort to address the issue through exchanges of information. "We must begin a global dialogue, using public campaigns and all forms of media, to spread greater awareness of the issues," he declared.

"Governments can play an additional role by adopting educational curricula that instil values of peace and tolerance," he added, pointing out that children are not born with prejudice.

In order to "eliminate all distorted notions that deepen barriers and widen divides," he called for a "multi-faceted dialogue that promotes unity in diversity, and replaces misunderstanding with mutual understanding and acceptance."

The active involvement of the media, private sector, civil society, faith groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be crucial to this effort, he said. "Their insights and outreach will be instrumental in helping to achieve our goal."

Toward that end, he welcomed an informal interactive hearing planned for the afternoon aimed at fostering an exchange of views among Member States and civil society and the private sector. Among those slated to participate are leading academics, religious leaders and other civil society representatives.

Also addressing the event today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need to promote the idea that differences among peoples, far from being a threat, are what enrich humanity as a whole.

"It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience," Mr. Ban said. "And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater – far greater – than our outward differences."

Mr. Ban said that the different people he has met in his travels during his first nine months in office all share one common emotion – "a universal longing for peace, and an aspiration of prosperity."

Mr. Ban noted that today's gathering comes at a particularly auspicious time, as Jews mark the celebration of the Torah and Muslims approach the end of the holy month of Ramadan. "Such occasions remind us that men and women of faith around the world can be brought together, rather than separated, by their convictions and their belief in something greater than themselves."

He also pointed out that in today's era of global travel and instant satellite transmissions, people everywhere are encountering "less of the familiar, and more of 'the other,'" leading to increased tensions among cultures and religions.

In light of that trend, Mr. Ban emphasized that "it is time – indeed, it is past time – for a constructive and committed dialogue; a dialogue amongst individuals, amongst communities, and between nations."
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED 'CLEAN UP THE WORLD WEEKEND' MOVES INTO CYBERSPACE

UN-BACKED 'CLEAN UP THE WORLD WEEKEND' MOVES INTO CYBERSPACE
New York, Oct 4 2007 11:00AM
When 35 million volunteers around the planet take part in the annual United Nations-backed "Clean Up the World Weekend" next weekend, their activities will for the first time also break into cyberspace with photos and videos posted onto Google Map under a new agreement announced today, giving a global platform to every local initiative.

"The power of local community action is being matched by the power of the World Wide Web," <" http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=519&ArticleID=5678&l=en">said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, whose agency has been organizing the event since 1993 with volunteers picking up trash on beaches, in villages and other sites, from Australia's Sydney Harbour to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach.

"This should make a formidable partnership uniting and empowering groups from Bangalore to Bermuda and Berlin to Beijing in common cause," he added of the initiative with the giant Internet search engine.

"Let us hope this global Google community's effort may go further and persist beyond the International Cleanup Weekend. It may evolve into a new forum and network for ideas sharing on a wide range of challenges from local cleanups to community-based solutions to such pressing issues as climate change."

The "Clean Up the World Weekend," held this year on 13 and 14 October, is led by Sydney-based Ian Kiernan, who set out to clean up Sydney Harbour after a yacht race left him appalled by the amount of rubbish choking the world's oceans.

Joint action on the <" http://maps.google.com/help/maps/cleanup/">International Cleanup Weekend is part of a series of projects between UNEP and Google Inc. Last year, Google Earth featured "UNEP: Atlas of our Changing Environment," offering satellite images of 100 environmental hotspots from around the world and showing the dangers facing them.

UNEP and Google encourage everyone to plan their own cleanup close to home, wherever they think there is the biggest need for it.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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FIGHT AGAINST URBAN CRIME IS FOCUS AT UN-BACKED CONFERENCE

FIGHT AGAINST URBAN CRIME IS FOCUS AT UN-BACKED CONFERENCE
New York, Oct 4 2007 11:00AM
With crime and violence constituting one of the most significant causes of fear and insecurity in many cities today, over 600 delegates from 42 countries are <" http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=5322&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0">meeting at a United Nations-backed conference in the Mexican city of Monterrey this week to discuss just what to do about it.

"The inexorable transition to a predominantly urban planet bears with it many opportunities and consequences," UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Cecilia Leal Martinez told the opening session of the five-day meeting on Monday.

"It can be a promising transition to economic growth, improved education and health, cultural and scientific progress. But it can also bring with it greater divide between the rich and the poor, and unsustainable, chaotic patters of urban development that exacerbate urban exclusion and threaten urban environment," she said in the keynote speech.

The conference has set out to develop an international framework to support cities and stakeholders in addressing violence in an urban development perspective. Between 1990 and 2000, incidents of violent crime per 100,000 persons increased from 6 to 8.8.

"Clearly, crime, whether violent or not, is a growing and serious threat to urban safety all over the world," said UN-HABITAT, which is mandated by the General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. "The threats to urban safety pose a huge challenge to both national and city governments."

The conference brings together representatives from government, local authorities, law enforcers, civil society organisations including youth organisations, academic experts, the private sector and international organisations.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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UN LAUNCHES FLASH APPEAL TO AID 75,000 FLOOD VICTIMS IN GHANA

UN LAUNCHES FLASH APPEAL TO AID 75,000 FLOOD VICTIMS IN GHANA
New York, Oct 4 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations and partner organizations today launched a $10-million <" http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SHES-77MPNS?OpenDocument">flash appeal for 75,000 people in northern Ghana, where entire communities have been hit by floods after heavy and persistent rain in late August and mid-September.

Farmers in the already vulnerable Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions have lost their crops, vast tracts of land, food storage and processing facilities are submerged, and houses, bridges, schools and health facilities have been destroyed by the waters, which are part of a wider flood crisis across a whole swath of sub-Saharan Africa.

"Although floods are common in Ghana, this year's abnormally heavy rain has resulted in flooding that is stretching the ability of affected communities to cope," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said. "Food security is a particular concern in areas of the country where people's lives were already precarious. The generosity of Member States and other donors can help prevent living conditions from deteriorating even further."

Preliminary assessments by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture reveal an estimated loss of 144,000 metric tons of crops, including maize, sorghum, millet, peanuts, yam, cassava and rice. In addition, prices of all staples have doubled since the flooding, and not all food commodities are readily available at markets due to flooded roads and submerged bridges.

This leaves around 75,000 people at risk of malnutrition until next year's harvest, which will take place only if irrigated crops can be planted on schedule. Seeds, fertilizer and tools must be supplied by March 2008 for that to happen. Funds from the appeal will also ensure that those cut off by floodwaters have access to health services through outreach and mobile clinics.

Partners with logistics expertise will enable mobile teams to deliver essential drugs and medical supplies to inaccessible areas by the use of helicopters or boats. The teams will also be able to provide insecticide-treated bed-nets to prevent an increase in malaria as the flood waters recede, as well as chlorine tablets to make household water safe to drink.

Funds are also needed to fix damaged public and household latrines. River boats will be used throughout the relief operation, estimated at six months, or until the floods have receded following the end of the rainy season.

The humanitarian community will also distribute tents and basic household items such as blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans and kitchen-sets to those deemed the most vulnerable, some 18,000 people who have lost their homes.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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CHOLERA CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN IRAQ, UN HEALTH AGENCY REPORTS

CHOLERA CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN IRAQ, UN HEALTH AGENCY REPORTS
New York, Oct 4 2007 10:00AM
Cholera is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas remains highly possible, with more than 30,000 people having already fallen ill with acute watery diarrhoea, according to the latest <" http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_10_03/en/index.html">update by the United Nations health agency.

More than 3,300 cases have been identified as positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes the debilitating and sometimes fatal intestinal infection, but clinical symptoms indicate the presence of cholera in many others, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Fourteen are known to have died from the disease which is often caused by polluted water, but the low case-fatality rate throughout the outbreak that began in August indicates that those who have become sick have been able to access adequate treatment on time.

Most laboratory-confirmed cases have occurred in the north in Kirkuk and Sulaymaniah, but an increasing number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea has been reported in Diala, a province neighbouring Baghdad, with clinical symptoms indicating cholera. The number of cases has been stable in Basra, Baghdad, Dahuk, Mosul and Tikrit, but a case has now been confirmed in the previously unaffected province of Wasit.

The Government has mobilized a multi-sectoral response, specific controls have been reinforced and preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission to unaffected areas have been put in place.

But the overall quality of water and sanitation is very poor, a factor known to greatly facilitate cholera contamination. WHO is procuring 5,000,000 water-treatment tablets and two of its epidemiologists are being deployed to support the Health Ministry.

WHO does not recommend any restrictions to travel or trade to or from affected areas as a means to control, but urges neighbouring countries to reinforce active surveillance and preparedness systems. Mass chemoprophylaxis is strongly discouraged, as it has no effect on the spread of cholera, can have adverse effects by increasing antimicrobial resistance and provides a false sense of security.

Use of the current internationally available pre-qualified oral cholera vaccine is not recommended once an outbreak has started due to its 2-dose regimen, the time required to reach protective efficacy, high cost and the heavy logistics associated with its use.
2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS DIALOGUE ON INTERRELIGIOUS AND INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS DIALOGUE ON INTERRELIGIOUS AND INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
New York, Oct 4 2007 9:00AM
The United Nations General Assembly today opens its first-ever formal, high-level dialogue on issues of interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation.

Freedom of religion and belief and the need for respect for a diversity of religions and cultures are on the agenda as delegates open the session, which is being convened by Assembly President Srgjan Kerim. An informal interactive hearing with civil society representatives is also being held to provide a platform for exchange of views among Member States and civil society, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.

Among those slated to participate are leading academics, religious leaders and other civil society representatives. The High Representative of the Secretary-General for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, will address the interactive informal hearing.

At its last session, on 20 December 2006, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace which encouraged Member States, the UN system and civil society to carry out a range of initiatives in an effort to promote understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity of religion, belief, culture and language.

General Assembly holds dialogue on interreligious and intercultural understanding

The United Nations General Assembly today opens its first-ever formal, high-level dialogue on issues of interreligious and intercultural understanding and cooperation.

Freedom of religion and belief and the need for respect for a diversity of religions and cultures are on the agenda as delegates open the session, which is being convened by Assembly President Srgjan Kerim. An informal interactive hearing with civil society representatives is also being held to provide a platform for exchange of views among Member States and civil society, including non-governmental
(NGOs) and the private sector.

Among those slated to participate are leading academics, religious leaders and other civil society representatives. The High Representative of the Secretary-General for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, will address the interactive informal hearing.

At its last session, on 20 December 2006, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace which encouraged Member States, the UN system and civil society to carry out a range of initiatives in an effort to promote understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity of religion, belief, culture and language.

2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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UN, DANIEL PEARL FOUNDATION, MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE PLAN CONCERT SERIES

UN, DANIEL PEARL FOUNDATION, MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE PLAN CONCERT SERIES
New York, Oct 4 2007 9:00AM
The United Nations has announced plans to collaborate in organizing a series of concerts next week in New York at the Museum of Jewish Heritage -- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust as part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days named for the Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in early 2002.

On 8, 9 and 10 October, Israeli artist Idan Raichel will perform as part of the event, one of many Daniel Pearl Music Days being held in October around the world in memory of the slain journalist.

UN officials associated with the concert series said the Holocaust and the UN Outreach Programme lends its support to the Daniel Pearl Foundation and the Museum of Jewish Heritage to celebrate the continuing triumph of tolerance and diversity through the universal language of music.

The Holocaust and the UN Outreach Programme, called for by the General Assembly, involves civil society partners in Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.

The programme is currently organizing training seminars on the lessons of the Holocaust for UN staff from over 60 offices worldwide and has created "Electronic Notes for Speakers," an online pedagogical tool for educators and UN Member States to assist them in developing educational programmes.

2007-10-04 00:00:00.000

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TO SUSTAIN GROWTH, TOURISM SECTOR MUST TAKE ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE - UN

TO SUSTAIN GROWTH, TOURISM SECTOR MUST TAKE ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE – UN
New York, Oct 3 2007 7:00PM
The tourism industry must meet the challenges posed by climate change if it is to continue its growth, a United Nations-backed conference announced today.

According to the Davos Declaration, reached at the conclusion of a three-day meeting in the Swiss town, "the tourism sector must rapidly respond to climate change, within the evolving UN framework, if it is to grow in a sustainable manner."

Additionally, it stressed the role tourism can play in addressing climate change to promote both sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs), the eight ambitious targets to slash poverty and other social and economic ills by 2015.

The second International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism was organized by the UN World Tourism Organization (<"http://www.unwto.org/index.php">UNWTO), the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/">UNEP) and the UN World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/pages/index_en.html">WMO), and was supported by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Swiss Government.

"We know that the solutions for climate change and for poverty are interrelated," said UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General Geoffrey Lipman. "We leave Davos more optimistic about our future on the common agreement to build upon [the] quadruple bottom line sustainability of economic, social, environmental and climate responsiveness."

At Davos, he added, the entire tourism sector pledged to contribute to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's global road map for the major climate change meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in December.

This meeting seeks to determine future action on mitigation, adaptation, the global carbon market and financing responses to climate change for the period after the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol – the current global framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – in 2012.

Participants at the Davos meeting have concluded that the tourism sector must lessen its greenhouse gas emissions, derived from transport and accommodation activities; adapt tourism businesses and destinations to alter their practices; utilize technology to bolster energy efficiency; and obtain financial resources to assist poor regions and countries.

Stefanos Fotiou, who heads UNEP's Tourism Unit, underscored the extremely important and positive role tourism can play in tackling the main issues the world faces today.

The tourism industry is "challenged by climate change and at the same time is not an insignificant contribute to greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "The Conference has also demonstrated that, through a more intelligent and better managed development trajectory, tourism can assist in combating poverty in developing countries, in reducing its own carbon footprint and make a contribution to the conservation of natural and nature-based resources."

Together, the Davos Declaration and the results of the meeting will form the basis of the UNWTO Minister's Summit on Tourism and Climate Change to be held in London on 13 November, and will also be presented at the Bali conference.
2007-10-03 00:00:00.000

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ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS MUST BE PRIORITIES IN SIERRA LEONE, OFFICIAL TELLS UN

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS MUST BE PRIORITIES IN SIERRA LEONE, OFFICIAL TELLS UN
New York, Oct 3 2007 6:00PM
The recent successful staging of elections in <"http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/2007/pdfs/sierraleone-eng.pdf">Sierra Leone will be worth little to its people unless the country can quickly post economic and social gains as well, the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations told the General Assembly today.

Joe R. Pemagbi said that while Sierra Leoneans deserved commendation for the way that presidential and parliamentary polls were held earlier this year, it was important to remember that peace is "a process that must be consolidated, maintained and sustained."

The polls were the first in the West African nation since UN peacekeepers left in 2005 after helping to bring peace and stability to the country which was torn apart by a brutal 10-year civil war. Since then the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) has been engaged in assisting the fledgling democracy.

"We must not forget that the people also have a right to economic and social development," he told the annual high-level debate. "The right to vote is inextricably linked to the right to food, the right to clean and portable water, the right to basic social services and of course the right to development."

Mr. Pemagbi stressed that all the praise over Sierra Leoneans' conduct during the election process "will be meaningless unless we create and intensify our collective effort to ensure that they see and enjoy the dividends of that process. Periodic elections are important, but they are not a panacea for all their needs."

He said his Government would continue to have high expectations about the work of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, set up last year to help countries emerging from conflict avoid sliding back into chaos or war. Sierra Leone – along with Burundi – was selected as one of the first two countries on the agenda of the Commission, and it has begun received money already from the related Peacebuilding Fund.
2007-10-03 00:00:00.000

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UN ASSEMBLY WRAPS UP ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE WITH CALLS FOR ACTION - PRESIDENT

UN ASSEMBLY WRAPS UP ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE WITH CALLS FOR ACTION – PRESIDENT
New York, Oct 3 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations General Assembly today wrapped up its wide-ranging high-level debate characterized by calls for action to address climate change and other pressing international concerns, the 192-member body's president said.

<"http://www.un.org/ga/president/62/statements/conclusiongd031007.shtml">Addressing the closing of the session, which began on 25 September and saw the participation of scores of national leaders, Srgjan Kerim thanked delegates for their "insightful" contributions during the debate.

"The presence of almost a hundred heads of State and government as well as about 80 ministers for foreign affairs is a mark of the importance the world places on this unique Assembly," he said.

The President also drew attention to the "flurry of diplomatic activity" that accompanied the annual high-level meeting. "We have increased our visibility and the public and media have responded positively."

Reflecting the views of many expressed during the session, he urged action on the theme of the debate: responses to climate change. "The latest reports about the accelerated melting of the Arctic have unnerved the experts. We need to be on high alert," he cautioned.

"You have send a strong political message that the time for talk has passed – that the time for action has begun," he told those present, declaring that "climate change has become the flagship issue" of the current Assembly session.

Reviewing the consensus that emerged during the just-concluded session, he cited wide agreement that adapting to global warming should not limit growth, but rather help achieve sustainable development. "We all agreed that we have common but differentiated responsibilities," he said, adding that there was broad consensus that the UN "must remain at the centre of the process to reach a global agreement."

Numerous participants, he said, endorsed the idea of a "road map to coordinate the United Nations system on climate change."

Looking to a planned meeting in Bali this December aimed at hammering out a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, which limits greenhouse gas emissions but is set to expire in 2012, he said: "It is now up to you to deliver."

Other issues which received close attention during the debate included the global anti-poverty targets collectively known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the need for progress on financing for development ahead of the Doha Conference in 2008; and a "broad desire" to achieve consensus on a comprehensive convention against terrorism.

Participants also touched on the importance to adherence to international law, human security and the responsibility to protect, and discussed regional hotspots such as the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and Myanmar.

"There is overall agreement that we could make faster progress on all these issues if our multilateral institutions better reflected contemporary realities, underlining the need for better progress on United Nations reform," he said, citing a need to make the Secretariat more effective and to reform the Security Council.

At the outset of the debate, the President had indicated that he wanted to give priority to five priority areas: climate change, financing for development, countering terrorism, the MDGs and management reform.

In a statement released by his spokesman today, the President said the General Assembly "is the only forum where these priority issues can be tackled comprehensively and notes that the presence of over 90 world leaders in the debate underscored the importance Member States placed on this unique forum for multilateralism."

In total, 189 Member States addressed the high-level debate, along with two observers: the Holy See and Palestine. A total of 67 heads of State, 25 heads of government, four vice-presidents, 13 deputy ministers, 66 foreign ministers, two other ministers, four deputy ministers and eight chairs of delegation spoke.
2007-10-03 00:00:00.000

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