UN AGENCY LAUDS CREATIVE EFFORTS TO FIGHT GLOBAL HUNGER IN 2007

UN AGENCY LAUDS CREATIVE EFFORTS TO FIGHT GLOBAL HUNGER IN 2007
New York, Dec 28 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?">WFP) has hailed new, creative efforts in 2007 that galvanized more support in the fight against global hunger, ranging from the world's first and most popular humanitarian video game to a partnership with the International Rugby Board.

The agency noted in particular that "the Internet, with its immense power and reach, combined with social networking, chalked up many successes."

Effective initiatives included "Food-Force.com," a humanitarian video game which helps kids understand more about hunger, "Freerice.com," a web-based vocabulary game that has donated 11.5 billion grains of rice to WFP, and "Hungerbytes!," a unique online contest to produce the best, short video about 'byting' global hunger on YouTube.

Among other laudable efforts were "Fight Hunger: Walk the World," a global walk in which over half a million people participated and which raised $1.5 million, and the "Tackle Hunger" campaign launched during the Rugby World Cup in France.

While the many initiatives held throughout 2007 have helped to strengthen efforts to feed the hungry, WFP stresses that more needs to be done given that 25,000 people still die each day from hunger-related causes.
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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SRI LANKAN REBELS, BREAKAWAY FACTION STILL RECRUITING CHILD SOLDIERS - BAN KI-MOON

SRI LANKAN REBELS, BREAKAWAY FACTION STILL RECRUITING CHILD SOLDIERS – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Dec 28 2007 4:00PM
The separatist Tamil Tiger rebels and a breakaway group known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthali Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna faction continue to abduct children to fight as soldiers in the bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a new report made public today.

Covering the period from 1 November 2006 to 14 September 2007, the 20-page <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2007/758">report noted that "both parties have failed to cease the abduction, recruitment and use of children."

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the TMVP/Karuna faction – which split from the Tamil Tigers and now supports Government troops – have also failed to "release all children associated with their forces and engage in transparent procedures for release and verification," which includes allowing the UN Task Force on monitoring and reporting full access to military locations under their control, Mr. Ban wrote.

Between 1 November 2006 and 31 August 2007, some 262 children were recruited by the LTTE, including 32 who were re-recruited, according to reports received by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). This represents a significant decrease as compared to the previous 12-month period, when 756 children were reportedly recruited, including 97 who were re-recruited.

Despite some advances in dialogue between UNICEF and the LTTE's so-called Child Protection Authority which deals with child recruitment issues, there have been several hurdles, such as the LTTE's insistence that only children born after 1 January 1990 – who are 17 years old – would be released. This is in disregard of both international and national legal standards which state that 18 years is the minimum age of recruitment.

Meanwhile, the number of children recruited by the TMVP/Karuna faction rose to 207 between 1 November 2006 and 31 August 2007 from 193 in the previous-12 month period, UNICEF said.

"Despite initial engagement on an action plan, the TMVP/Karuna faction demonstrated bad faith on a number of occasions, including leading the United Nations to a falsified training camp in Batticaloa and re-recruiting children within days of releasing them in the presence of UNICEF," the report stated.

"As of September, 2007, the TMVP/Karuna faction has not demonstrated a full commitment to stop recruiting children and has not released all children within their ranks," it added.

Mr. Ban applauded the Sri Lankan Government's creation in April 2007 of a special task force on children and armed conflict, and called on authorities to take measures to prevent armed groups' abduction and recruitment of children as soldiers and to secure the release of current child soldiers.

He urged all sides to abide by the recommendations of his previous report, in which he appealed for peace and for the cessation of the recruitment of children as soldiers.

The prior report also asked all parties to "recognize and commit to maintaining the neutrality and security of schools, hospitals and religious institutions as 'safe zones' in conflict-affected areas."
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN SURVEY REVEALS ALARMING MALNUTRITION RATES AMONG DARFUR'S CHILDREN

NEW UN SURVEY REVEALS ALARMING MALNUTRITION RATES AMONG DARFUR'S CHILDREN
New York, Dec 28 2007 2:00PM
Child malnutrition rates have reached their highest level in three years in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan, according to a joint survey carried out by the Government and the United Nations, which is leading what is the currently the largest relief effort in the world aimed at assisting some 4.2 million people.

The overall malnutrition rate among children under five in Darfur reached 16.1 per cent this year, compared to 12.9 per cent last year, surpassing for the first time since 2004 the emergency threshold of 15 per cent.

That is just one of the findings of the food security and nutrition assessment carried out in August and September by the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), along with the Sudanese Government.

The report also reveals that a larger proportion of children aged 6-29 months are malnourished than children aged 30-59 months. Moreover, malnutrition is highest in North Darfur – over 20 per cent – compared to other parts of the region.

Among the contributing factors cited in the report are poor feeding practices, inadequate sanitation, low health coverage, and low coverage of special feeding programmes.

Continuing insecurity is also a primary cause, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA), which noted that access to those in need has been compromised in the course of this year by fighting, particularly violence against civilians and aid workers, with attacks directed at the latter having risen 150 per cent this year.

More than 13,000 humanitarian workers are deployed in Darfur, including staff from 13 UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent societies and some 80 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Over 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million forced to flee their homes, living either as internally displaced persons (IDPs) or as refugees in neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), since fighting began between Government forces and rebel groups in 2003.

Earlier this year the Security Council authorized the creation of a hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, to try to quell the violence. The operation – set to become the world's largest peacekeeping operation with some 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police and civilian staff – is scheduled to take over from the existing AU mission next week.
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON NAMES NEW DEPUTY HEAD FOR UNICEF

BAN KI-MOON NAMES NEW DEPUTY HEAD FOR UNICEF
New York, Dec 28 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sga1114.doc.htm">appointed a veteran United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) official to help lead the agency as its Deputy Executive Director.

Saad Houry, a dual Lebanese-Canadian citizen, has been the Director of UNICEF's Division of Policy and Planning since January 2003, and he is also a member of the agency's Global Management Team, Programme Management Group and Audit Committee.

Mr. Houry began his career with UNICEF in 1978, and has served as its Chief of Staff and as Deputy Regional Director in the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, located in Jordan.

Fluent in Arabic, English and French, he has also undertaken assignments in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

Mr. Houry has also worked for the World Bank and the American University in Beirut.

As the lead UN agency for children's rights, their survival, development and protection, <" http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF is active in 191 countries around the world.
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL DECLARES NEPAL ELIGIBLE FOR UN PEACEBUILDING FUND

SECRETARY-GENERAL DECLARES NEPAL ELIGIBLE FOR UN PEACEBUILDING FUND
New York, Dec 28 2007 1:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today that Nepal is eligible to receive assistance from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, set up a year ago to help countries emerging from conflict consolidate their gains and avoid slipping back into war.

Mr. Ban has instructed his Special Representative and the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.unmin.org.np/">UNMIN) to ensure that financing from the Fund is targeted to priority peace process needs that have already been identified by the UN after consultations with the Government and all parties to the peace process, along with donors and other key stakeholders.

Assistance from the <" http://www.unpbf.org/">Peacebuilding Fund will be channelled through an existing funding mechanism – the UN Peace Fund for Nepal, which is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of the Special Representative, the UN Resident Coordinator and representatives from the Government and donor community.

Carolyn McAskie, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, said Nepal was declared eligible for assistance from the Peacebuilding Fund "because there is pressing need to consolidate the country's peaceful gains and ensure key areas in the peace process are supported."

An estimated 13,000 people were killed – and 100,000 to 200,000 displaced – during the decade-long civil conflict in Nepal that formally ended when the Government and Maoists signed a peace accord last year.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4774f5b54.html"> UNHCR) and other agencies are helping tens of thousands of the displaced who have returned to their homes to rebuild their lives since the end of the conflict. Among the challenges faced by returnees are land seizure and finding sustainable livelihood.

Launched last year, the Fund is intended to "kick-start" critical peacebuilding interventions. Long-term funding must still come from multilateral and bilateral supporters. The Fund has an initial funding target of $250 million and so far has collected deposits worth more than $148 million from 42 donors.

To date, it has approved grants of $43 million for 21 projects in Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two countries under formal consideration by the related UN Peacebuilding Commission.

The Fund has also funded several emergency projects in Africa which have supported critical peacebuilding initiatives such as the dialogue between Côte d'Ivoire's opposing political forces and the mediation efforts in the troubled Central African Republic (CAR).

Earlier this month, the Fund agreed to provide Liberia with $15 million over the next two years to fund projects in the West African nation.
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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BRING ON THE CLOWNS: UN AGENCY FINDS NEW ALLY IN HELPING IRAQI REFUGEE CHILDREN

BRING ON THE CLOWNS: UN AGENCY FINDS NEW ALLY IN HELPING IRAQI REFUGEE CHILDREN
New York, Dec 28 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency has enlisted a new ally – red-nosed clowns – to help put Iraqi children traumatized by the violence of their homeland at ease while they register for school in neighbouring Syria.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4773ce344.html">UNHCR) first learnt about the positive benefits of clowns when a local troupe was hired on World Refugee Day in June to perform in the tense and unhappy waiting room at its main registration centre in Damascus, the Syrian capital, making the children more relaxed.

"We know that one in five refugees that register with UNHCR are victims of violence or torture in Iraq," UNHCR Representative Laurens Jolles said. "This means that many families, particularly children, are traumatized when they come to us. The clowns offer a rare opportunity for parents and children to smile during the otherwise very difficult experience of registering with UNHCR."

Three people came forward when the agency put out a message that it was looking for Iraqi clowns to perform a regular show at the registration centre as part of its "Back to School" campaign. They became UNHCR's first outreach volunteers from the Iraqi community. There are more than 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in Syria.

UNHCR asked the independent international group, Clowns Without Borders, to review the first show, which focused on informing parents and children that all Iraqi children have the right to attend school. Clowns Without Borders returned in November to offer further training to the clowns, and welcome laughter therapy for UNHCR, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and UNICEF staff.

At a community centre in Seida Zeinab, one of the main Iraqi refugee areas in Damascus, a crowd of children burst out laughing as two clowns squirted each other with water and made flowers out of balloons. "It was beautiful," said Rodeen, a beaming smile covering her face during the show. After the show the young girl returned to her place hiding behind her aunt's legs.

For the three Iraqi clowns, members of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious Baghdad-based Happy Family Group, the main goal is to make children laugh. Their members are now spread across the region, living as refugees. One colleague was killed in Iraq.

"We're doing this to make the children happy in order to remove the fears and memories of bombs and bad days," one of the clowns, Rahman Eidi, said. "We also want to teach children about the importance of school."

The clowns perform a daily show at the UNHCR Registration Centre, then spend a couple of hours supporting the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent colleagues who staff the child-friendly space at the centre. Several times a week they perform at community centres, offering a rare diversion for many refugee families. This also helps to bring families into the centres to learn about other services offered by UNHCR.
2007-12-28 00:00:00.000

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ATTACKS AGAINST AID WORKERS IMPEDING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN EASTERN CHAD - UN

ATTACKS AGAINST AID WORKERS IMPEDING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN EASTERN CHAD – UN
New York, Dec 27 2007 6:00PM
Banditry continues to impede the efforts of humanitarian workers to deliver much-needed relief in eastern Chad, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported.

Recently, two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were attacked – MSF-Spain in the capital N'Djamena and ATHAS in Bahai. Refugees are also the victims of attacks, <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA noted.

The ongoing insecurity has led to the partial relocation of aid workers to areas deemed to be safer such as Abeche, a city in eastern Chad. The UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations have curbed their use of local roads to transport relief items to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

To ensure that relief assistance is provided should security conditions continue to deteriorate, the UN and its partners – who are aiding over 230,000 Sudanese refugees and 180,000 IDPs – have revised their contingency plans for the areas of Goz Beida and Koukou, where almost half of the IDP population of Chad resides.

In a report earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote that preparations for the UN-mandated, multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR) – which will include European Union (EU) military forces – are on track.

However, he warned that eastern Chad's security situation "remained volatile and unpredictable," and that "the renewed violence has put the civilian population living in the area at increased risk and will further impede the work of the humanitarian community in providing the much-needed assistance to the population at risk."
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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REHABILITATION PROSPECTS AFTER WORST KOREAN OIL SPILL ARE GOOD, UN EXPERTS SAY

REHABILITATION PROSPECTS AFTER WORST KOREAN OIL SPILL ARE GOOD, UN EXPERTS SAY
New York, Dec 27 2007 5:00PM
The prospects for rehabilitation after the worst oil spill in the history of the Republic of Korea (ROK) are good, thanks to quick and effective action by the Korean authorities, according to a joint United Nations-European Commission Assessment Team.

Although emergency assistance is not required for clean-up operations after the oil tanker Hebei Spirit collided with a barge 100 kilometres south of Seoul, the capital, on 7 December, releasing 10,500 metric tons of crude oil into the sea, the team recommended continued monitoring and analysis to determine the impact on the environment, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The team also concluded that shoreline assessment training should be carried out to assist with longer-term clean-up options and to build national response capacity. Commending the speedy and effective reaction of the authorities, who used methods consistent with international oil pollution response practices, the team noted that follow-up activities began almost immediately after it completed its mission.

The affected coastline, approximately 300 kilometres, hosts a number of fish farms and an active wild fishery industry, and is home to habitats for a variety of migratory birds. The region is also a popular tourist destination.

As a result of the team's findings, the Government of Canada is deploying a team of oil spill specialists to provide Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Training to Korean personnel. In addition, the UN Environment Programme and (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=523&ArticleID=5728&l=en">UNEP) and European Commission will collaborate on a "Post Disaster Needs Assessment" to help national authorities establish an environmental monitoring methodology.

The seven-day UN-EC mission, which ended on 22 December, undertook a number of site visits by land, sea and air and established a partnership with national, provincial and local authorities involved in the clean-up. The majority of beaches visited were cleaned, a result of strong coordination and the considerable effort of dedicated personnel and volunteers from the general public, <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA said.

A mission report, to be shared with the Government, is being finalized and will contain a number of practical recommendations. The team was fielded by the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit and EC Monitoring and Information Centre, comprising experts from OCHA, UNEP, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the EC Environmental Directorate-General and the European Maritime Safety Agency.
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL URGES CALM FOLLOWING "REPREHENSIBLE" TERRORIST ATTACK IN PAKISTAN

SECURITY COUNCIL URGES CALM FOLLOWING "REPREHENSIBLE" TERRORIST ATTACK IN PAKISTAN
New York, Dec 27 2007 4:00PM
Condemning the deadly terrorist attack that killed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and at least a dozen others in the northern city of Rawalpindi, the United Nations Security Council today called on all Pakistanis to show restraint in the wake of today's tragedy.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9217.doc.htm">statement read out by Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for this month, the 15-member body paid tribute to Ms. Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party, and called for all those behind the suicide attack to be brought to justice.

The Council also called on all Pakistanis "to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country."

The Council's statement echoes the condemnation issued earlier today by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=168">called the assassination of Ms. Bhutto "an assault on stability in Pakistan and its democratic process."

The former leader was previously targeted in October during an attack on her convoy in the southern city of Karachi that killed over 100 people.
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES OUTRAGE AT ASSASSINATION OF EX-LEADER OF PAKISTAN

SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES OUTRAGE AT ASSASSINATION OF EX-LEADER OF PAKISTAN
New York, Dec 27 2007 12:00PM
Expressing his shock and outrage at the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the "heinous crime" and called for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.

The assassination of Ms. Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party, "represents an assault on stability in Pakistan and its democratic process," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2933">statement.

"While strongly urging calm and restraint to be maintained at this difficult time, I call on all Pakistanis to work together for peace and national unity," he added.

The Secretary-General also conveyed his condolences to Ms. Bhutto's family and colleagues, as well as to the people of Pakistan.

In October, an attack on the former leader's convoy in the southern city of Karachi killed over 100 people.

The UN Security Council is set to hold emergency talks shortly on today's killing.
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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SRI LANKA: UN EXPERT URGES TARGETED MEASURES TO ASSIST INTERNALLY DISPLACED

SRI LANKA: UN EXPERT URGES TARGETED MEASURES TO ASSIST INTERNALLY DISPLACED
New York, Dec 27 2007 12:00PM
While considerable efforts have been made to assist hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict in Sri Lanka, more must be done to ensure their safety and access to livelihoods so that they can lead normal lives, according to an independent United Nations human rights expert who recently visited the country.

"Sri Lanka, with the crucial support of the international community, has not only rehabilitated the majority of victims of the 2004 tsunami, but also made considerable efforts to assist those displaced since the escalation of hostilities in 2006," Walter Kälin <"http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/DCC9BA53104B0015C12573BE004C0D6C?OpenDocument">said in a statement issued following his 14 to 21 December mission to the country, which has been enduring civil conflict between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for a number of years.

During his visit, Mr. Kälin – the Secretary-General's Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (<"http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/idp/index.htm">IDPs) – met with Government officials and representatives of civil society and the international community in the capital, Colombo.

He also visited areas in Puttalam, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, where he met with IDPs and returnees, community and religious leaders, security officials and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies. He was unable to visit Kilinochchi to discuss humanitarian and protection concerns with the LTTE.

Mr. Kälin noted that the majority of the more than 220,000 people who fled their homes in the Eastern Province between April 2006 and March 2007 have returned, been provided with transitional shelter, and are beginning to regain their former lives.

At the same time, he stressed that targeted measures in the areas of security, livelihoods and humanitarian access "are essential if these returns are to be sustainable in both the near and long-term."

Mr. Kälin identified physical security as the predominant concern among IDPs, saying he was struck by "a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty" among the people he spoke with due to a number of factors, including continued incursions and attacks by the LTTE, and disappearances, abductions and looting.

Another major concern of IDPs and returnees was access to livelihoods, Mr. Kälin observed, noting that significant restrictions – some imposed by the authorities and others related to security – remain. He encouraged the authorities to restore full access to livelihoods.

Mr. Kälin stated that better information sharing and consultations between the Government and the IDPs, as well as members of the international community, would help reduce the prevailing sense of insecurity and facilitate the reintegration of returnees. Noting the challenges faced by NGOs providing humanitarian assistance in areas of return, Mr. Kälin added that "better access for agencies and NGOs working on protection would improve confidence among IDP populations because these agencies can identify and promptly facilitate the local resolution of individual concerns." He also voiced concern about threats, abductions and killings of aid workers, searches of UN vehicles and staff, looting of humanitarian assets, and slow response by police authorities in some cases.

Mr. Kälin stressed that allowing the displaced to lead normal lives, with decent housing and full access to livelihoods and services on the one hand, and preservation of their right to opt for eventual return and their property rights on the other, are not mutually exclusive.

"Finding sustainable solutions will not only allow IDPs and returnees to fully enjoy their human rights, but also crucially contribute to restoring stability in the country," Mr. Kälin stated. "Significant efforts in this area will be an important step towards durable peace in Sri Lanka."

The Representative will submit his report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. In addition to Sri Lanka, he has also recently visited the Central African Republic, Azerbaijan and Côte d'Ivoire.
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION CALLS ON ETHIOPIA, ERITREA TO SHOW RESTRAINT AFTER SHOOTING INCIDENT

UN MISSION CALLS ON ETHIOPIA, ERITREA TO SHOW RESTRAINT AFTER SHOOTING INCIDENT
New York, Dec 27 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission monitoring the ceasefire between Ethiopia and Eritrea today called on both sides to show maximum restraint after a shooting incident in the border area where the two countries fought a two-year war that ended in 2000.

Just last month Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in a report to the Security Council that continuing tensions between the two, the failure to resolve their longstanding boundary dispute and the military build-up along their common border were causes for serious concern.

The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html">UNMEE) reported that its Indian Battalion Post and Military Observer Team Site at Tsorena inside the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) on the Eritrea side heard firing sounds in the general direction of Gergera, southeast of Tsorena yesterday.

The Team Site and post patrol could not go to the scene due to permanent restriction on access to the area, but UNMEE has been in contact with both parties, who recognised that the incident had occurred, and is investigating it.

The Mission recalled an earlier statement by Mr. Ban in October urging both parties to "exercise utmost restraint, maintain their commitment to the Algiers Agreements," which ended the border war.

In his <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/645">report last month, Mr. Ban called on the two parties to find common ground to allow the Boundary Commission set up under the ceasefire to proceed with the demarcation of the border.

The Commission handed down a final and binding decision in 2002 but he noted that although Ethiopia says it has accepted the decision without preconditions, it continues to assert that security conditions for demarcation of the border do not exist.

He added that the situation remained tense, noting that Eritrea has moved in more than 2,500 troops and heavy military equipment into the TSZ, while both countries conducted military exercises along the border. In addition, Eritrean restrictions on UN peacekeepers and helicopter flights continue. He called on Eritrea to withdraw its forces and military equipment from the TSZ and to lift its restrictions on UNMEE.

UNMEE currently fields 1,676 military personnel, including 1,464 troops and 212 military observers, out of a total 4,200 mandated by the Security Council resolution that set up the mission in 2000. The Council cut back the troop strength in January, citing frustration with the lack of progress made by either country.
2007-12-27 00:00:00.000

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WORLD CEREAL PRICES SURGE TO 10-YEAR HIGHS DUE TO POOR HARVESTS, BIO-FUEL DEMAND - UN

WORLD CEREAL PRICES SURGE TO 10-YEAR HIGHS DUE TO POOR HARVESTS, BIO-FUEL DEMAND – UN
New York, Dec 7 2006 10:00AM
Cereal prices, particularly for wheat and maize, have surged to their highest levels in a decade, driven by poor harvests in key producing countries, fast-growing demand for bio-fuel production and supply constraints on the rice economy, according to the United Nations latest Food Outlook <"http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/j8126e/j8126e00.htm">report released today.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000459/index.html">FAO) anticipates that many countries will reduce purchases, not always in response to improved domestic supplies but rather due to high international prices. Moreover, higher energy costs may force many of the poorer developing countries to curtail expenditures on imported staples to sustain their fossil fuel needs, the report said.

Global expenditures on imported foodstuffs in 2006 could reach a historic high of $374 billion, over 2 per cent more than 2005. Import bills for developing countries are anticipated to rise by almost 5 per cent, mainly due to price increases rather than growth in imports.

FAO's forecast of world wheat output in 2006 stands at 592 million tonnes, almost 33 million tonnes, or 5.3 percent, down from 2005, but a turnaround is likely with increased winter plantings and good growing conditions raising expectations for a strong rebound in 2007.

World production of coarse grains in 2006 stands at 981 million tonnes, down 2.1 percent from 2005, but above the average of the past five years. Current strong prices are likely to encourage higher plantings and larger production in 2007, but if industrial use, mainly for ethanol, continues to grow at the current pace, it may take more than one good crop season for prices to retreat significantly, the report said.

Typhoons, drought, flooding, diseases and insect attacks have marred prospects for rice crops in 2006, so virtually no growth in global production is anticipated this year. The outlook for 2007 rice crops in the southern hemisphere is also negative.

The strength of grain markets also has ripple effects on the meat and dairy sectors, with expectations of high feed costs threatening to postpone a recovery in livestock and meat production, and a tightening dairy market anticipated. But dairy growth in developing countries is robust at over 4 per cent, due mainly to large gains in some countries of Asia and South America.

Global sugar production has recovered to the point that it is expected to outpace demand again after three years of deficit with a forecast increase to 155.5 million tonnes in 2006/07. World sugar prices have largely retreated from the 25-year highs reached in February but the market remains particularly susceptible to large demand swings and price volatility.
2006-12-07 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ: UN ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACK ON BAGHDAD MOSQUE

IRAQ: UN ENVOY CONDEMNS ATTACK ON BAGHDAD MOSQUE
New York, May 29 2007 5:00PM
The top United Nations envoy to Iraq today condemned in the strongest terms the deadly attack on the Shrine of Abdul-Qader Al-Bilani Mosque in Baghdad, calling on those responsible to be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative Ashraf Qazi said in a statement that the "perpetrators of this heinous crime, which claimed the lives of tens of Iraqis and injured scores of innocent civilians, clearly intended to inflame sectarian passions and undermine any prospect of peace and stability in Iraq."

He reiterated his appeal to both religious and political leaders to take measures to tackle the peril of sectarian violence while ensuring the human and political rights of all Iraqis will be observed.

Mr. Qazi also urged them to respect religious sensitivities and to protect places of pilgrimage and worship as well as sites that are historically significant.
2007-05-29 00:00:00.000

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UN INCREASES APPEAL FOR STORM VICTIMS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO $18.5 MILLION

UN INCREASES APPEAL FOR STORM VICTIMS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO $18.5 MILLION
New York, Dec 26 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations is seeking an additional $4.1 million to aid storm victims in the Dominican Republic, bringing the total requested over the past two months to $18.5 million.

The additional funds are needed to assist those affected earlier this month by tropical storm Olga, which killed up to 33 people and displaced another 61,000, bringing new hardship and significantly disrupting recovery and relief efforts after tropical storm Noel struck the Caribbean country at the end of October, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) said in a statement today.

Two weeks after Olga hit, nearly 14,000 people remain in 42 shelters while 47,700 others are staying with family and friends. Material damage is also significant, with over 12,000 houses affected, of which 370 were completely destroyed. Together, the two storms killed over 160 people and directly affected more than 130,000.

At the same time, $6 million of the $14.4 million requested in November for relief and recovery after Noel have already been committed, leaving $8.4 million outstanding.

Health care, water and sanitation, food security and shelters are the top priority needs. Although the impact of Olga was less severe than that of Noel, the recent storm further complicated ongoing relief and recovery efforts since many of the areas affected by Noel were also hit by the later storm.

The UN and its partners are supporting the Government in its response to both disasters. The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) continues its distribution of food packages and hygiene items to affected communities, while the UN World Health Organisation (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO)/Pan American Health Organisation (<"http://www.paho.org/">PAHO) is providing supplementary staff, both local and international, and technical assistance in health and sanitation.

The UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA) has provided hygiene and cleaning equipment as well as medical supplies, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) is carrying out emergency projects.

In the aftermath of Noel, storm victims have also benefited from a $2.8 million grant allocated in November by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/cerf/CERFHome/tabid/1705/Default.aspx">CERF) in support of immediate life-saving activities.

This year alone the Fund has committed $212.9 million to rapid response grants in 48 countries, including the Dominican Republic, and another $124 million in support of under-funded emergencies in 23 countries.
2007-12-26 00:00:00.000

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