UN AND PARTNERS WORKING TO EASE PLIGHT OF KENYANS AFFECTED BY POST-ELECTORAL VIOLENCE

UN AND PARTNERS WORKING TO EASE PLIGHT OF KENYANS AFFECTED BY POST-ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
New York, Jan 5 2008 5:00PM
The situation in much of Kenya remains "calm but tense," according to United Nations officials on the ground who are working with their humanitarian partners to aid those affected by the violence that erupted following last week's disputed polls.

The UN estimates that some 250,000 Kenyans have been displaced, and 350 reportedly killed, by the violence which erupted after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner in the recent election. In the wake of the crisis that followed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on both President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to resolve their issues through dialogue.

The UN Country Team in Kenya is working with the Kenya Red Cross Society and a number of national and international non-governmental organizations, as well as faith-based groups, to provide immediate humanitarian assistance.

The situation in the country is "calm but tense," according to UN security officials, who added that much of Nairobi appears to be returning to "near normalcy."

However, many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) still fear for their safety and remain where they have found refugee, UN Resident Coordinator Elizabeth Lwanga told reporters in Nairobi today. The UN's focus right now is to "address the special needs of Kenyans who are displaced and who are in distress because of the crisis," she added.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food through the Kenya Red Cross for 100,000 people displaced in the Rift Valley. "However, there is a need for a systematic coordination of escorts of convoys with humanitarian supplies," Ms. Lwanga said. While Kenyan security forces have been escorting food convoys between depots and allowing the Kenya Red Cross to distribute it from there to those in need, she stressed that "the sustainability of this mode of operation is not guaranteed."

Meanwhile, WFP has been waiting at Mombasa, a major port for sever
countries in the region, with 30,000 metric tonnes of food, enough for 1.5 million people, for eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Somalia and Southern Sudan.

Some trucks left Mombasa but then were stranded due to insecurity on main roads and checkpoints set up by vigilantes in western Kenya. "At the moment we have not had a problem in food distribution but if this situation continues then food will not get delivered on time," said WFP's Peter Smerdon.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that about 5,000 Kenyans have fled to Uganda, and an unconfirmed number have also left for Tanzania. Some of those that crossed into Uganda are living in schools or churches, while others have been taken in by relatives.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that many hospitals are in desperate need of medical supplies to treat trauma and injuries. "Supplies and staff are needed to treat victims of shooting, burning, beating, slashing and trampling," according to UNICEF's Sara Cameron. The agency is working to reduce malnutrition among the displaced in the worst-affected areas and setting up so-called "safe spaces" for displaced mothers and children. Furthermore, it is providing water and sanitation, as well as family kits, to up to 100,000 people.

2008-01-05 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD LAUNCHES POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMME

UN MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD LAUNCHES POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMME
New York, Jan 4 2008 6:00PM
The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT) launched a new programme today to train instructors for Chadian police to help victims in the country's east of the crisis in Sudan's war-wracked Darfur region.

A total of 36 officers – including 20 international and 16 national participants – will take part in the seven-day Training of Trainers programme for the Chadian Police.

The training seeks to "enhance the capabilities of Chadian police and gendarmes to provide effective police service to the population in eastern Chad affected by the Darfur crisis, including refugees, IDPs [<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">internally displaced persons] and humanitarian workers," as stated in a September 2007 Security Council resolution.

Those participating in this programme will, in turn, train some 200 Chadian police officers for monthly for the next four months – a total of 850 officers – to protect refugees and IDPs in Chad.

MINURCAT was <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1778(2007)">established by the Council last September as a multidimensional presence including European Union military forces and comprising 300 police and 50 military liaison officers, as well as civilian staff, focusing on the areas of civil affairs, human rights, the rule of law and mission support.
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL LAYS OUT CHALLENGING UN AGENDA FOR 2008

SECRETARY-GENERAL LAYS OUT CHALLENGING UN AGENDA FOR 2008
New York, Jan 4 2008 5:00PM
Peacekeeping, pre-emptive diplomacy, climate change and improving the lot of poor countries, as well as internal reform, will be high on the United Nations agenda for 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

"If the challenges ahead appear daunting, let us remember that great expectations are placed on us," Mr. Ban told staff during a town hall meeting held at UN Headquarters in New York, in which colleagues from around the world participated via video-link.

"The world recognizes the indispensable nature of the United Nations. Let us take heart from the fact that multilateralism is alive and well and in greater demand than ever – that people look to us for global solutions to global problems."

Noting that 2008 will be a milestone year marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Ban said the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx">OHCHR) would be strengthened "so we can deliver more results on the ground," and he would create a task force on the global scourge of violence against women.

In peace and security, he cited the establishment of the hybrid UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (<"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID) which will be the Organization's largest peacekeeping operation when it reaches its mandated level of some 26,000 troops and police in an effort to bring peace to that war-torn region of western Sudan.

"Our task now is to strengthen our capacity for preventive diplomacy, and instil a more integrated and effective UN approach in responding to conflict and supporting sustainable peace processes," he added, noting the need to continue reforming the Department of Political Affairs and enhancing the peacebuilding system to prevent countries emerging from conflict from slipping back into bloodshed.

Mr. Ban called for redoubling efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs), which seek to slash a host of social ills such as extreme hunger and poverty, infant and maternal mortality, and lack of access to health and education, all by 2015, adding that Africa must be the priority, as many countries there are in danger of falling short.

He stressed that the poorest countries are also among those most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

"So we must act on the mutually reinforcing relationship between climate goals and development goals. Climate change will remain a top priority, both because of the desperate urgency of the issue itself, and because of the tight negotiating calendar," he added, referring to the agreement at last month's conference in Bali to have a treaty on greenhouse gas emission targets ready by the end of next year.

All these needs will also require revamping the UN's internal workings, and Mr. Ban cited the streamlining of the world body's contracts system and a continued focus on better governance, performance, accountability and transparency.

Stressing the primacy of staff security and safety after last month's bombing of UN offices in Algiers, he declared: "The tragedy in Algiers also strengthens our resolve to explain even more clearly and consistently to the public the role of the United Nations, wherever we operate – why we are there, what we are doing, what we stand for and what we don't.

"We must make clear we are not there to represent any one group of nations over another. We are there to clear landmines, build schools, run clinics, advance the rule of law, provide emergency relief, help protect the environment, promote human rights, keep the peace in troubled lands – in short, build better lives for the men, women and children we exist to serve."
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY PUBLISHES NEW GUIDELINES FOR USING ICT TO ADVANCE LEARNING

UN AGENCY PUBLISHES NEW GUIDELINES FOR USING ICT TO ADVANCE LEARNING
New York, Jan 4 2008 5:00PM
Realizing that it takes more than just having a computer in the classroom to enable teachers to pass on the skills students need to do well in today's world, the United Nations has developed new guidelines to help instructors better use information and communication technology (ICT) in education.

The new guidelines – ICT Competency Standards for Teachers – was developed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41553&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) in cooperation with technology giants Cisco, Intel and Microsoft, as well as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said the guidelines – which will be presented to education ministers from more than 100 countries at the Moving Young Minds Conference in London next week – provide a tool that will help policymakers and teacher-training developers plan their use of ICT.

"These standards consist of modules that will help trainers prioritize their needs and design training curricula adapted to specific requirements and resources, reflecting UNESCO's conviction that countries must occupy the driver's seat of educational planning," he stated.

The agency noted that the standards go beyond just addressing ICT skills, and takes into account the specific needs of teachers, curriculum and school organization. They should "contribute to the education of a better-informed citizenry able to advance economic and social development."
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON MOURNS DEATH OF PIONEERING CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENTIST

BAN KI-MOON MOURNS DEATH OF PIONEERING CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENTIST
New York, Jan 4 2008 4:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to Bert Bolin – a pioneering scientist on global warming and co-founder of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC) – who has passed away at the age of 82.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2939">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban commended Professor Bolin's "immeasurable contribution, not only in being one of the first to recognize the consequences of increasing emissions of greenhouse gases decades ago, but also in alerting the world to what was required by Governments to protect our planet from the impact."

Mr. Ban said he is moved that last month, Professor Bolin was able to see the <"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the start of negotiations at the historic Bali climate change conference.

"The Secretary-General joins Professor Bolin's colleagues in the IPCC and around the world in giving thanks for his work, and in resolving to build on his legacy."

Also expressing his condolences, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC) said that Professor Bolin put the issue on the global political agenda.

Without his contributions, negotiations on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol might not have been launched, Mr. de Boer said.

"The world owes him a great deal for helping to get this process going," the Executive Secretary added. "We can best honor his legacy by ensuring that we deliver on the Bali promise: to develop and agree a comprehensive global response to climate change by the end of 2009."

Mr. de Boer recalled that Professor Bolin's work in preparing the IPCC's first and second Assessment Reports led to the start of negotiations and ultimately to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

Professor Bolin, who served as the first chairman of the IPCC from 1988 to 1998, actively communicated the dangers posed by climate change, Mr. de Boer noted. "As an eminent organizer and leader, he was instrumental in establishing crucial links between scientists and decision-makers."
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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SERIOUS RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED DURING MARCH 2007 CLASHES IN DR CONGO - UN

SERIOUS RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED DURING MARCH 2007 CLASHES IN DR CONGO – UN
New York, Jan 4 2008 4:00PM
An investigation by the United Nations human rights office has found that serious abuses – including the use of excessive force, illegal detentions and summary executions – took place during clashes between Government forces and guards of former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa last March.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx">OHCHR) today released the preliminary findings of its probe into the events of 22 and 23 March 2007, which occurred nearly six months after Mr. Bemba lost to Joseph Kabila in the run-off round of landmark presidential elections, the first such polls in more than four decades in the vast African nation.

Some 300 people lost their lives during the clashes and their aftermath, according to a statement released by the Geneva-based OHCHR.

"Incidents of serious human rights violations were also documented," including excessive and indiscriminate use of force by the country's armed forces (FARDC) and the Republican Guard, as well as the use of heavy weapons by both sides in the city centre, the statement added.

In addition, the investigators received "credible information" that at least 40 civilians and members of Mr. Bemba's security team who had surrendered were summarily executed.

"Reports of mass burial sites and evidence of bodies of unidentified victims recovered in the Congo River, however, indicate that there may have been a significantly higher number of summary executions committed," the statement noted.

The investigative team recommended that a judicial probe be carried out by the Congolese authorities and that victims who lost family members, who were injured or whose property was damaged be compensated.

In addition, it stated that the Congolese authorities should issue a comprehensive public statement about the events, explaining what happened and what has been done by the authorities to correct wrongdoing by Government forces and other security personnel.
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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UN REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE WORLD, BAN KI-MOON STRESSES TO ARABIC NEWS NETWORK

UN REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE WORLD, BAN KI-MOON STRESSES TO ARABIC NEWS NETWORK
New York, Jan 4 2008 3:00PM
Expressing sadness that the United Nations and its staff have become targets of terrorist attacks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underscored that the world body stands for all the nations, people and faiths of the world.

The UN "is not working for any group of nations over another," Mr. Ban said in an interview with Al Jazeera which aired today, stressing that "there should be no misunderstanding" as to what the Organization does.

When asked whether he believes the role of the Organization is misunderstood by the Arab world, he responded, "they should understand that what we are doing is to uphold the principles, universally accepted principles, of peace and human rights, as well as development of the countries where [we] work."

The terrorist attacks in which 17 UN staff lost their lives in Algiers last month are "unacceptable," the Secretary-General declared, noting that "terrorism can never be justified under any circumstances."

Acknowledging that differences of opinion exist between Muslim and non-Muslim countries, he said that "our best efforts" must be exerted to bolster understanding and appreciation of other faiths and cultures.

Mr. Ban pointed to the steps taken by the UN <"http://www.unaoc.org/">Alliance of Civilizations – which brings together leaders, institutions and civil society to try to reduce fear and suspicion and overcome prejudices and polarizations that have emerged between Islam and the West – to promote interfaith dialogue.

Shrugging off suggestions that he is particularly close to the United States, he emphasized that the Security Council unanimously recommended his nomination to the General Assembly, which in turn endorsed his election.

"I have maintained a very close relationship with all the non-aligned countries and other Member States from other regions," Mr. Ban declared.

Responding to criticism that he has not taken clear positions on some issues, the Secretary-General highlighted that he is "very practical" as well as "very realistic" in addressing problems.

Given the diverging dynamics, backgrounds and issues involved in specific conflicts, it is essential to address each issue in a "very comprehensive way, without necessarily listening to one [side's] positions," but instead taking all parties' concerns into account, he said.

Mr. Ban pointed to the importance of maintaining his objectivity and being perceived as fair by all sides to a conflict.

"I have taken very clear, definite positions when it comes to real situations," he said, citing the recent agreement on the Bali road map to tackle climate change, the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur, Lebanon and the humanitarian situation in Gaza as examples.

On Iraq, the Secretary-General said that it is crucial to focus on the war-wracked nation's future rather than dwelling on the past and whether or not the use of force against the country defied international law and the UN Charter.

"The whole international community should help the Iraqi Government and people so they'll be able to enjoy genuine freedom so they can live in peace and security," he said.

Mr. Ban underlined that the expansion of the UN's role in the country was agreed upon unanimously last August by the 15-member Security Council – not just by the US.

"I am very happy to implement this Security Council resolution to strengthen and increase the presence of the United Nations for the purpose of bringing peace and security to the region," he said.

Regarding the Middle East peace process, the Secretary-General said that the so-called diplomatic Quartet – comprising the UN, European Union, Russia and the US – has an important role to play.

But he also stressed that he has expressed his concerns about the humanitarian situation that Palestinians face due to settlements, roadblocks and the closure of crossing points.

Mr. Ban expressed his sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people, and said that he is doing his utmost to ease their "social and economic burdens."
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN-BACKED CAMPAIGN URGES KIVU ARMED GROUPS TO SURRENDER

DR CONGO: UN-BACKED CAMPAIGN URGES KIVU ARMED GROUPS TO SURRENDER
New York, Jan 4 2008 1:00PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is <" http://www.monuc.org/News.aspx?newsID=16396">assisting the Government in a new sensitization campaign encouraging all remaining armed groups in North and South Kivu provinces – where fighting has escalated in recent months leading to a dire humanitarian situation – to surrender.

The campaign was launched by the Government on 1 January and comes ahead of a conference, set to begin on Sunday in the North Kivu capital of Goma, aimed at bringing peace and development to the troubled eastern region of the DRC.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in North Kivu in recent months after fighting intensified between Government troops and rebels allied with the dissident army general, Laurent Nkunda.

The UN mission in the DRC, known as MONUC, is assisting the Government in its efforts to reach the remaining foreign combatants in the Kivu provinces. The mission's Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR) division will be using radio broadcasts and leaflets encouraging them to surrender and return home.

The mission has 18 mobile radio teams, on the ground in both provinces, who have a broad knowledge of the foreign combatants and their location, said Ndiaga Diagne, a MONUC DDRRR officer based in Goma.

"Our role is to support the DRC Government with all the means and expertise at our disposal. We are ready to assist contacts between the DRC Government representatives and the FDLR [Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda] on the ground, in order to have the most complete sensitisation possible," he explained.

He added that there are approximately 8,000 foreign combatants remaining in the Kivu provinces – 6,000 in North Kivu and 2,000 in South Kivu. "The majority of foreign combatants in the Kivus are FDLR combatants from Rwanda."

The campaign is also aimed at Congolese armed combatants in the Kivus – the majority of whom are Nkunda rebels and Mai Mai factions – and the respective Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme.

Last year, nearly 13,900 Congolese combatants were disarmed. Many ex-fighters from armed groups are retrained to form part of the national armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) through a process known as brassage.

MONUC has also assisted in repatriating some 800 foreign combatants and their dependants from the DRC last year.
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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UN RIGHTS EXPERTS VOICE DEEP CONCERN AT ETHNIC DIMENSION OF KENYAN VIOLENCE

UN RIGHTS EXPERTS VOICE DEEP CONCERN AT ETHNIC DIMENSION OF KENYAN VIOLENCE
New York, Jan 4 2008 12:00PM
A group of 14 independent United Nations human rights experts on issues ranging from racism to sexual violence to freedom of belief today voiced deep concern at the growing inter-ethnic conflict in Kenya, citing the deaths of dozens of civilians, including children and women, after a mob set fire to a church where they had taken sanctuary.
</p>
"In this regard, we are profoundly alarmed by the reports of incitement to racial hatred and the growing frictions between the different ethnic groups," the experts said in a statement, calling on all sides to rapidly end the violence that erupted after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner over opposition leader Raila Odinga in the country's recent elections.
</p>
"In the light of historical precedents in the region, we strongly appeal to the Kenyan authorities, as well as political, ethnic and religious leaders, to put an end to what may become the dynamics of inter-ethnic killings, while also calling upon the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to fulfil its responsibilities in this regard," they added.
</p>
Rwanda, to the west of Kenya, was the scene of genocide in 1994, when ethnic Hutu extremists massacred some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis has also killed hundreds of thousands of people over the past four decades in Burundi, Rwanda's southern neighbour.
</p>
In a litany of "great concern," the experts cited the tragic loss of life, the massive displacement, especially in the Rift Valley, which threatens enjoyment of the right to food, health, housing and education, and reports of gang rapes and the attendant likelihood of HIV infection.
</p>
They also noted reported curbs on free expression, in particular a ban prohibiting live coverage of events. "While we recognize the prerogative and duty of the Kenyan authorities to maintain public order, we are, however, alarmed by reported instances of use of excessive force by Kenyan security forces against demonstrators and other civilians," they added.
</p>
"We urge the incumbent Kenyan authorities to take all necessary steps and measures to bring an end to the present situation, including by addressing appropriately questions raised with regard to the latest election results. We also call upon the leaders of political parties to show restraint and control over their followers and supporters."
</p>
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already deplored the violence that has reportedly claimed more than 300 lives and displaced or otherwise affected more than 100,000 others, and UN agencies are helping to provide humanitarian aid. Mr. Ban said today he had spoken by phone to President Kibaki.
</p>
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will shortly provide food through the Kenya Red Cross for 100,000 people displaced in the Northern Rift Valley.
</p>
"The biggest problem is the difficulty for trucks carrying WFP food to reach areas in western Kenya," the agency said today, noting that virtually all movement of food both for western Kenya and the entire region, including Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was frozen for days because of insecurity.
</p>
Some 200 trucks were loaded with WFP food in the Kenyan port of Mombasa from a ship that arrived over Christmas carrying 30,000 metric tons – enough to feed 1.5 million people for a month – for Uganda, southern Sudan, Somalia and the eastern DRC. The food for Somalia will be sent by sea, but the rest has to go by land.
</p>
Some trucks left Mombasa but then were stranded because of insecurity on main roads and checkpoints set up by vigilantes in western Kenya. Fifteen trucks are stranded in or near Nairobi, 60 in Mombasa and others in Eldoret, near the site of the church massacre. Each truck carries 34 tons of food. "WFP is holding urgent talks to resolve this issue and get food to those who need it in Kenya and elsewhere," the agency said.
</p>
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is also working with the Kenya Red Cross to send essential supplies to children affected by the violence, and has said it is ready to assist up to 85,000 people with shelter and non-food items. </p>
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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HOME AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH PNEUMONIA EQUALLY EFFECTIVE - UN

HOME AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH PNEUMONIA EQUALLY EFFECTIVE – UN
New York, Jan 4 2008 11:00AM
The results of a new United Nations-backed study – showing that home and hospital treatment of children suffering from severe pneumonia is equally effective – could transform how the illness is treated in developing countries and save many lives annually.
</p>
With nearly four children dying from pneumonia every minute, the illness is the largest single killer of children under the age of five worldwide, according to the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr01/en/index.html">WHO). Some 60 per cent of pneumonia cases in the developing world are caused by bacteria and are therefore treatable with antibiotics, compared to the developed countries where most cases are viral.
</p>
Families in poor nations, where the majority of cases among children are, may not readily be able to access hospitals, and in-patient treatment could be difficult for parents who cannot leave their homes to accompany the sick child.
</p>
The study – conducted in Pakistan by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health and supported by WHO and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – involved over 2,000 children with severe pneumonia who were randomly assigned to receive injectable antibiotics in a hospital or take antibiotic pills at home.
</p>
The results, published this week in <I>The Lancet</I>, showed that 8.6 per cent of treatment failures occurred in children who were sent to hospitals, while 7.5 per cent were among those treated at home.
</p>
"The potential impact of these results is enormous," said Dr. Shamim Qazi, Medical Officer with WHO's Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development. "Effective management of pneumonia is critical to improving child survival."
</p>
Treating children for pneumonia at home would be a huge benefit, both to families and health systems, Dr. Qazi added, noting that WHO's 2008 guidelines will be updated to reflect the results of the new research.
</p>
May children with severe pneumonia referred for admission to hospitals either die before reaching them or are so sick by the time they arrive that nothing more can be done to save them.
</p>
For 2-3 per cent of all pneumonia cases, children with very severe pneumonia will still need treatment with injectable antibiotics at a hospital. </p>
2008-01-04 00:00:00.000

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UN LAUNCHES EMERGENCY OPERATION TO FEED OVER 1 MILLION DISPLACED IRAQIS

UN LAUNCHES EMERGENCY OPERATION TO FEED OVER 1 MILLION DISPLACED IRAQIS
New York, Jan 3 2008 11:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2732">launched $126-million year-long emergency operation to feed more than 1 million displaced Iraqis who are unable to meet their basic needs due to the violence wracking the country.

"We hope that the food assistance we provide can help avert a much bigger crisis," WFP Iraq Country Director Stefano Porretti said. "We are facing a growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the continuing violence in Iraq. An increasing number of displaced people cannot meet their food needs and therefore require more help."

Some 750,000 of the most vulnerable Iraqis displaced within the country will benefit from the programme, as will more than 360,000 others who have fled to Syria.

In Iraq, WFP will supply a complementary food package, consisting of wheat flour, white beans and vegetable oil to internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs), who are unable to get rations under Iraq's Public Distribution System (PDS) due to various difficulties including the transfer of their ration cards to their new place of residence.

The 750,000 are the most vulnerable among an estimated 2.2 million IDPs, many of whom now live with host families, in abandoned buildings or in poorly supported camps.
WFP aid is not intended to replace government food rations and will phase out as soon as the Government absorbs the IDPs into the PDS.

In Syria, WFP will provide monthly food rations, consisting of rice, vegetable oil and lentils, initially to 155,000 needy Iraqis but with the aim of reaching about 360,000 by the end of 2008. Syria, which has up until recently provided shelter to virtually all those who have arrived at the border, is home to over 1.5 million Iraqis, many of whom have no savings, no income and no means of support.

"The needs of Iraqis in Syria are mounting. Many have depleted their meagre resources and cannot cope with the rising costs of living. They desperately need humanitarian help," WFP Syria Country Director Pippa Bradford said.

In a recent UN assessment, conducted in collaboration with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, about a third of Iraqi respondents said they skipped one meal a day to feed their children, while 60 per cent said they were buying less expensive foods, often less nutritious, to cope with rising prices.

The emergency operation will be implemented in close cooperation with the respective Governments as well as UN agencies and other partners. Priority will be given to local and regional purchases of food whenever possible.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES POLITICAL SOLUTION AS SRI LANKA TRUCE BREAKS DOWN

BAN KI-MOON URGES POLITICAL SOLUTION AS SRI LANKA TRUCE BREAKS DOWN
New York, Jan 3 2008 1:00PM
Secretary-General has underscored the urgent need for a political solution to end the bloodshed in Sri Lanka following the Government's decision to terminate the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement that halted a decades-long conflict with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Mr. Ban is "deeply worried" that the withdrawal from the accord comes amidst intensifying fighting in the North and increasing violence across the country, including the capital, Colombo, his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2938">statement today.

"The Secretary-General urges all concerned to ensure the protection of civilians and enable humanitarian assistance to be provided to affected areas," the statement added.

In a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/758">report released last week, Mr. Ban highlighted the continued recruitment and use of children as soldiers, particularly by the Tamil Tiger rebels and a breakaway group known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthali Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna faction.

The report noted that "both parties have failed to cease the abduction, recruitment and use of children." In addition, the 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.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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UN TO MARK GALILEO'S FIRST USE OF TELESCOPE TO UNLOCK MYSTERIES ON UNIVERSE

UN TO MARK GALILEO'S FIRST USE OF TELESCOPE TO UNLOCK MYSTERIES ON UNIVERSE
New York, Jan 3 2008 12:00PM
The United Nations will mark the 400th anniversary next year of Galileo's use of the telescope to gaze at the stars by focusing its attention on stimulating interest worldwide, especially among young people, in astronomy and science.

Under the theme "The Universe, yours to discover," the Organization has proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy and designated the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<" http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41550&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) as its lead agency, with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) acting as implementing body.

"Encouraging the spirit of discovery and sharing of fundamental knowledge about the Universe and our place in its midst, it (the year) will provide an ongoing platform for international cooperation beyond all barriers including age, race, gender, status, time, place, and space," UNESCO said in a news release today.

To date, 99 nations and 14 organizations have decided to contribute to promoting the Year - an unprecedented network of committed communicators and educators in astronomy.

In close cooperation with IAU, UNESCO's World Heritage Centre will pursue the "<" http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/19">Astronomy and World Heritage" initiative launched in 2003 to promote the nomination of cultural property linked to astronomy. Many State Parties to UNESCO's World Heritage Convention have already designated national institutions which will identify the most representative sites and propose them for nomination on the <"http://whc.unesco.org/en/list">World Heritage List.

UNESCO's Space Education Programme (SEP) organizes workshops for secondary level students and teachers in developing countries in cooperation with their Ministries of Education and of Science & Technology, planetariums, science centres, industry and non-governmental organizations.

It has donated portable telescopes to schools through an agreement with Meade Instruments and the National Space Society's "Permission to Dream" initiative. Cooperation will be enhanced for further educational activities and organization of events related to the Year.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN MISSION SUPPORTING SECURITY PLANNING FOR UPCOMING PEACE TALKS

DR CONGO: UN MISSION SUPPORTING SECURITY PLANNING FOR UPCOMING PEACE TALKS
New York, Jan 3 2008 2:00PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is supporting the Government in security preparations for an upcoming conference aimed at bringing peace and development to the troubled eastern region of the vast African nation.

In a news release, the mission – known by its French acronym MONUC – <"http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=16389">said it has transported several battalions of the national army (FARDC) to North Kivu in the past week to ensure the security of the peace conference, set to begin on 6 January in the provincial capital of Goma.

"As a component of the planning of security related to the organization of the Goma conference, FARDC battalions were transported by helicopter to improve the defence of Masisi and Katale," said interim MONUC military spokesperson Colonel Samba Tall.

Last week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his hope that the summit will help end a conflict that has caused tremendous suffering and has displaced of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

Fighting has escalated in recent months between Government troops and rebels allied with the dissident army general, Laurent Nkunda, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes in North Kivu.

The UN refugee agency estimates that over the last year, a mix of conflict, military build-up and spiralling lawlessness has displaced 400,000 people in North Kivu – the worst displacement since the end of the civil war in 2003. In total, there are an estimated 800,000 displaced people in the province, including those uprooted by previous conflicts.

MONUC also reported the surrender of Nkunda dissidents at the mission's bases, in spite of periodic skirmishes between various groups.

Several of those that surrendered were sent to brassage, Colonel Tall stated, referring to the process by which ex-fighters from armed groups are retrained to form part of the integrated brigades of the FARDC.

Ten combatants with the Ituri Patriotic Resistance Front who surrendered in Bavi were also sent to brassage.

MONUC added that it has intensified its joint patrols with FARDC in South Kivu in an effort to improve security and aid humanitarian efforts in the province.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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100,000 KENYANS NEED EMERGENCY AID AFTER POST-ELECTORAL VIOLENCE - UN

100,000 KENYANS NEED EMERGENCY AID AFTER POST-ELECTORAL VIOLENCE – UN
New York, Jan 3 2008 2:00PM
The United Nations is helping to provide humanitarian aid to at least 100,000 Kenyans estimated to require immediate assistance following the deadly outbursts of post-electoral violence that has reportedly claimed more than 300 lives, including dozens burned to death inside a church.

"The United Nations humanitarian agencies in Kenya are gearing up to do everything necessary to help displaced and needy Kenyans at this difficult time," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said today.

"Meanwhile, all political leaders in Kenya have a responsibility to protect the lives and livelihoods of innocent people, regardless of their racial, religious or ethnic origin, and ensure that relief can safely reach those in need," he added, deploring the reported "troubling" increase in sexual and gender-based violence.

The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) is providing enough legumes and oil to the Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRCS) for 100,000 people for one month, initially in the Rift Valley. This will complement 1,800 metric tonnes of cereal that the Government has made available, an amount which can feed 120,000 people for one month.

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) has made clear that it is ready to assist up to 85,000 people with shelter and non-food items, indicating that 13,000 family kits, comprised of blankets, tarpaulins, cooking sets, soap, and jerry cans, are locally pre-positioned and 2,000 family kits are in the pipeline.

KRCS reported yesterday that roughly 70,000-80,000 people have been displaced by the unrest in the northern Rift Valley. Many people elsewhere in the country, including some 10,000 people in Kibera, a slum area of Nairobi, have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in safer areas. Unconfirmed reports talk of hundreds of refugees arriving in Uganda in recent days.

A joint Government-UN mission is scheduled to visit the area today to determine the numbers of arrivals and their needs, if any.

"Thousands of people are displaced and at risk. Supplies of food, water, fuel, essential medicines are acutely low in many densely populated areas," said Anna Tibaijuka, Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

"Transport corridors from the Port of Mombasa through Kenya are restricted, causing supply chain disruption to our humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in the region, for example for Southern Sudan, Uganda and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo," she added.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already appealed twice this week for an end to the violence that erupted after the announcement of election results last week.

Ms. Tibaijuka said many shops and markets remained closed and in some areas had been destroyed, and she too cited disturbing reports of victimization of vulnerable groups including sexual abuse of and assault on women and children.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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OUTSTANDING GAPS IN NEW UN FORCE IN DARFUR MUST BE FILLED - BAN KI-MOON

OUTSTANDING GAPS IN NEW UN FORCE IN DARFUR MUST BE FILLED – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Jan 3 2008 2:00PM
In a race against time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appealing to United Nations Member States to speed up delivery of vital units and equipment for the newly launched but critically under-strength joint UN-African Union force (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID) set up to stem the violence in Sudan's Darfur region.

Four months into the implementation of the Security Council resolution mandating a force of 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police, UNAMID – which formally took over from the existing AU operation on Monday – still only has some 9,000 uniformed personnel on the ground and lacks "critical aviation capabilities," Mr. Ban says in a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/759">report to the 15-member body.

"Furthermore, the Government does not appear to have fully embraced the fact that a robust and effective UNAMID will contribute towards Darfur's long-term stability," he writes of the vast region, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes since fighting began in 2003 between Government forces and rebel groups.

Meanwhile, continuing rebel activity, including attacks on Government forces and oil installations and assaults on and hijackings of humanitarian vehicles, all underscore the uncertain circumstances under which UNAMID is being launched, he adds in the report, which is dated 24 December and was released today.

Despite these challenges UNAMID will make every effort to make maximum use of its current limited resources and personnel, including a "more forward-leaning posture," increased patrolling, and enhanced outreach to internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) and humanitarian activities.

"Nevertheless, this change in approach cannot replace the thousands of troops and police officers and vital equipment which will not arrive until later in 2008. This is a particularly worrying scenario given the ongoing insecurity in Darfur, and the very strong possibility that the Mission will be tested by spoilers in the early stages," Mr. Ban says.

"In this context, and because time is against us, I reiterate my appeal to Member States for support in accelerating the deployment of selected units and filling outstanding gaps in force composition," he adds, stressing that the international community "cannot afford the risks" associated with the deployment of a weak force.

Mr. Ban notes that the effective functioning of UNAMID will also be highly dependent on the ability of the UN and AU to work with the Government to rapidly resolve the complex technical issues related to its deployment.

"It is paramount that all parties commit themselves to an end to violence and a cessation of hostilities," he writes.

While UNAMID should help improve stability once fully deployed, "it is only through political dialogue and inclusive consultations that the parties will be able to reach a viable, sustainable and comprehensive to the crisis," he concludes, adding that while merging the number of rebel movements into two coalitions is a step forward, "there is still an enormous amount of ground to cover."

Efforts on the political front are being led by the UN and AU Special Envoys for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, who have been pursuing a political settlement to the crisis through negotiations aimed at a achieving a peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Darfurian movements.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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UNCERTAINTY ON KOSOVO'S FUTURE STATUS COULD LEAD TO INSTABILITY, WARNS BAN KI-MOON

UNCERTAINTY ON KOSOVO'S FUTURE STATUS COULD LEAD TO INSTABILITY, WARNS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Jan 3 2008 3:00PM
The loss of momentum in making progress towards resolving Kosovo's future status could result in instability in the Serbian province and the greater region, even potentially endangering United Nations staff, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/768">report made public today.

"The parties are urged to reaffirm and act upon their declared commitments to refrain from any actions or statements that could endanger peace, incite violence or jeopardize security in Kosovo and the region," Mr. Ban wrote in his latest report on the UN peacekeeping mission in the province, known as <"http://www.unmikonline.org">UNMIK.

Last month, the troika – comprising the European Union, Russia and the United States – told the Security Council in a report that despite four months of intense and high-level negotiations, Belgrade and Pristina have been unable to reach agreement on Kosovo's final status. The province's Albanian leadership supports independence but Serbia is opposed.

"Neither party was willing to cede its position on the fundamental question of sovereignty," said the troika, which was established after a stalemate emerged over a proposal by Mr. Ban's Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, for a phased process of independence for Kosovo.

In his report, Mr. Ban said that expectations in the province, where ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other minorities by nine to one, are still high that a solution will be reached quickly.

"As such the status quo is not likely to be sustainable," he noted. "Should the impasse continue, events on the ground could take on a momentum of their own, putting at serious risk the achievements and legacy of the United Nations in Kosovo."

The Secretary-General called attention to the readiness of the EU to play a larger role in Kosovo to bolster the province's stability.

"The European's Union's growing institutional commitment to Kosovo is important, as is its continuing provision of a European perspective to Kosovo," he said.

Although encouraged by the "free and fair manner" in which November 2007 elections were held in the province, the Secretary-General expressed concern over the low participation of Kosovo Serbs at the polls.

"The elections highlighted, once again, that many members of the Kosovo Serb community, particularly those living in northern Kosovo, do not feel represented by Kosovo's Provisional Institutions," he pointed out.

Mr. Ban appealed to both the Kosovo Serb community's political representatives and Belgrade authorities to encourage Serbs in the province to take an active and constructive role in Kosovo's institutions. At the same time, he encouraged Kosovo's leaders to continue outreach efforts to Kosovo Serb and other m
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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NEW ROUND OF UN-LED TALKS ON WESTERN SAHARA TO START NEXT WEEK

NEW ROUND OF UN-LED TALKS ON WESTERN SAHARA TO START NEXT WEEK
New York, Jan 3 2008 3:00PM
The United Nations will lead a third round of talks on Western Sahara, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario, next week outside of New York City.

"As was the case with the previous meetings, and due to the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions, the talks will once again be private," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

The three-day meeting which begins on Monday will take place in Manhasset, Long Island, at the Greentree Estate – the site of the two previous rounds of negotiations that took place in June and August of 2007.

Last month, Ms. Montas announced that the upcoming discussions will be facilitated by Peter van Walsum, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara. Letters of invitation were extended to Morocco and the Frente Polisario, as well as to neighbouring countries.

The second round of talks in August ended with agreement among the parties that the status quo is unacceptable and the process of negotiations will continue.

In his October 2007 <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/619">report on the issue, Mr. Ban said the two sides held mutually exclusive positions that had prevented them from seriously discussing each other's proposals during the talks.

Morocco holds that its sovereignty over Western Sahara should be recognized, while the Frente Polisario's position is that the Territory's final status should be decided in a referendum that includes independence as an option.

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurso/index.html">MINURSO) has been in the Territory since September 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

Last October, the Security Council <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1783">extended the mandate of MINURSO through April 2008, calling on the two sides "to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to engage in substantive negotiations."
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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UN RUSHES AID TO HELP INDONESIANS STRICKEN BY FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES

UN RUSHES AID TO HELP INDONESIANS STRICKEN BY FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES
New York, Jan 3 2008 4:00PM
United Nations agencies have been rushing aid to Indonesians on the southern island of Java, which was recently struck by severe floods and landslides.

Seasonal torrential rains have impacted central and eastern Java, resulting in over 90 deaths, according to the Indonesian Government. Additionally, more than 30 people are missing.

With a rapid assessment pointing to clean water and sanitation as the priority needs, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/index.php">UNICEF) is supplying hygiene kits, water purification supplies and water storage equipment to fulfil the daily water requirements of 10,000 people in central Java.

The UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org">UNFPA) has provided assistance for pregnant women, babies and women who have just delivered, while the UN World Food Programme (<" http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) has conducted assessments and is preparing for possible food-for-work programmes.

Meanwhile, the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP) will provide support to the Indonesian Government, the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Humanitarian Coordinator.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY WILL BE A 'CHALLENGE' FOR LIBYA, SAYS ITS AMBASSADOR

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY WILL BE A 'CHALLENGE' FOR LIBYA, SAYS ITS AMBASSADOR
New York, Jan 3 2008 6:00PM
After chairing his first <" http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/index.html">Security Council meeting today, Libya's Ambassador said that being both a new member and president of the 15-member body at once is not an easy task, but is nonetheless very important for the North African nation, which was shunned by the international community for many years.

Libya was elected last year by the General Assembly to serve as a non-permanent member on the Council for a two-year term beginning on 1 January, along with Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia and Viet Nam. It also assumed the Council's presidency for January under a system by which the post rotates every month in alphabetic order by country name.

"It is quite a challenge, but we will do our best," Giadalla Ettalhi <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2008/080103_Ettalhi.doc.htm">told reporters as he presented the Council's programme of work for this month.

Mr. Ettalhi added that it is "very significant" for Libya, which was under UN sanctions for a decade, to be back on the Council. "It means that we are back to normal at least from the perspective of the others."

Turning to the Council's programme, which was approved by the membership earlier today, he noted that it will be "an Arab-African month," referring to the majority of issues to be dealt with during January.

Among them will be the newly-launched UN-African Union (AU) hybrid force (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID), set up to stem the violence in Sudan's Darfur region. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned of critical gaps that remain for the force, which formally took over from the existing AU operation on Monday and is set to become the UN's largest peacekeeping operation with 26,000 personnel at full deployment.

"The Council is very interested to hear from the Secretary-General about the deployment…and also the political process," Mr. Ettalhi said.

The Council will take up a related issue when it discusses the situation in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), where the UN has authorized a new mission (<" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/index.html">MINURCAT) to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan. Other African matters to be discussed include <" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">Cote d'Ivoire, <"http://www.un-somalia.org/">Somalia, and <" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html">Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Turning to <" http://www.unmikonline.org">Kosovo, Mr. Ettalhi said the Council will be discussing situation in the UN-administered Serbian province on 16 January. The format of that meeting, which will be attended by the Serbian President, has yet to be decided. This follows a closed-door discussion last month in the Council on the province's future status.

The Council will also have its regular monthly meetings on the situation in the <" http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=70&Body=palestin&Body1=">Middle East and <" http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=50&Body=Iraq&Body1=">Iraq, the Ambassador stated. "<" http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=110&Body=Lebanon&Body1=">Lebanon as such is not on the table for the time being," he added when asked if the Council will be taking up the situation in that country which has still not elected a new President.

On <" http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=134&Body=Myanmar&Body1=">Myanmar, he said he would consult with the Secretary-General's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari on whether he intends to brief the Council, should he return to the troubled South-East Asian nation in the coming weeks.
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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UN FINALLY OWNS CERTIFIED COPY OF ITS 1945 CHARTER

UN FINALLY OWNS CERTIFIED COPY OF ITS 1945 CHARTER
New York, Jan 3 2008 6:00PM
For the first time in its history, the United Nations holds a certified copy of its own <"http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/">Charter, signed on 26 June 1945 by the Organization's original 51 members, after it was presented to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the head of the United States National Archives.

Allan Weinstein made the trip to New York yesterday and gave the certified copy of the original document to Mr. Ban.

The Secretary-General made the request to Dr. Weinstein last October when he saw the original document at the National Archives – designated by the Charter itself to be its custodian – during an official trip to Washington, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

"Each of the 51 signatories has a certified copy," she noted. "The Organization itself now has one."
2008-01-03 00:00:00.000

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LOSS OF OVER 40 COLLEAGUES MAKES 2007 ONE OF UN'S DEADLIEST YEARS - STAFF UNION

LOSS OF OVER 40 COLLEAGUES MAKES 2007 ONE OF UN'S DEADLIEST YEARS – STAFF UNION
New York, Jan 2 2008 7:00PM
At least 42 United Nations staff members – including 17 who died in the 11 December 2007 attack in Algiers – were killed on duty last year, making it one of the deadliest years for the Organization, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/org1489.doc.htm">according to its Staff Union.

"While we mourn our colleagues and the other civilians killed, we cannot but stress the need for prevention and punishment," said Stephen Kisambura, the Union's president.

He called for Member States to bolster prevention efforts as well as bring those behind "heinous acts" to justice.

"Very seldom are perpetrators prosecuted, perpetuating the climate of impunity," Mr. Kisambura noted.

Ranging from bombings in southern Lebanon to armed attacks in Afghanistan, at least nine peacekeepers and 33 civilian staff members lost their lives in 2007, according to figures from the Union's Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service. This is an increase from 32 UN staff killed in fatal attacks in 2006 and at least 15 staff deaths in 2005.

Seventeen UN staff members were among dozens who perished in two car bomb attacks in the Algerian capital on 11 December. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon characterized the incident as a "despicable strike against individuals serving humanity's highest ideals under the UN banner."

In the wake of the tragedy, Mr. Ban promised the world body's staff that he would spare no effort to ensure their safety and ordered an immediate review of the Organization's security precautions and policies, stressing that "the security and welfare of UN staff is paramount."

A half dozen UN staff also lost their lives in war-wracked Sudan. Four drivers serving with the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) were killed – three in the Darfur region and one in southern Sudan, while two peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.unmis.org/">UNMIS) lost their lives in separate incidents.

A 24 June bomb attack killed six blue helmets and injured two serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html">UNIFIL) while they were patrolling near Khiyam, a town in southern Lebanon. The following month, a French peacekeeper with UNIFIL lost his life while clearing unexploded ordnance left over from the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah.

Afghanistan also proved to be dangerous for UN staff, as a remote-controlled explosive device killed an Afghan driver and four Nepalese contractors working with the UN Office for Project Services (<"http://www.unops.org/unops/ ">UNOPS) on 17 April. Meanwhile on 2 December, a WFP truck driver was killed by armed men on the road from Kandahar to Helmand in the country's south while delivering 14 tons of high-energy biscuits.

Last year also saw UN staff being arrested or detained in Darfur, Somalia and Myanmar.

Staff members of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) traveling in two vehicles clearly marked with the agency's logo were abducted on 30 April while en route to making a routine visit to a refugee camp near the town of El Geneina, West Darfur. After an hours-long search, the six aid workers were found unharmed.

Also in Africa, the head of WFP's Mogadishu office, Idris Osman, a Somali national, was taken away by dozens of armed Government forces on 17 October and released nearly a week later with no explanation given for either his arrest or his release.

In Myanmar, <"http://www.undp.org ">UNDP Programme Assistant Mynt Ngwe Mon, her husband and brother-in-law were arrested in the early hours of 3 October in Rangoon and released the following day. On 4 December, the top UN official in the country, Charles Petrie, was expelled after a 24 October statement by the UN Country Team denouncing Myanmar's "deteriorating humanitarian situation."
2008-01-02 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON SHOCKED BY DEADLY WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN POST-ELECTION KENYA

BAN KI-MOON SHOCKED BY DEADLY WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN POST-ELECTION KENYA
New York, Jan 2 2008 4:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his shock at the deadly outburst of violence that has gripped Kenya following the announcement of election results last week and has reportedly claimed the lives of 300 civilians, including dozens who were burned to death inside a church.

A <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2937">statement issued by his spokesperson said Mr. Ban is "increasingly troubled" by the escalating tensions and violence in the aftermath of last week's polls.

"He is shocked by reports that dozens of civilians were burned to death in a church in Eldoret, and that 300 people have now been reported killed in this deplorable outburst of violence," it added.

Strongly urging the authorities to do all they can to prevent any further violence, Mr. Ban "reminds the Government, as well as the political and religious leaders of Kenya of their legal and moral responsibility to protect the lives of innocent people, regardless of their racial, religious or ethnic origin."

The Secretary-General is in touch with the leadership in Kenya, the African Union and other concerned parties on how to address the current crisis.

Drawing attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the East African nation, Mr. Ban called for safe access for relief workers assisting those affected by the violence, including the large number of displaced people.

Humanitarian access has become a major problem, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA), which reported that the Nairobi-Nakuru road is currently being blocked by vigilante groups.

In addition, the UN Office at Nairobi (<"http://www.unon.org/">UNON) reports that transport corridors from the Port of Mombasa through Kenya have been restricted, disrupting supply chains to humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in areas such as Southern Sudan, Uganda and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Nairobi office has also highlighted disturbing reports of sexual abuse and assault against women and children. It is concerned that slum populations in cities are critically short of food and other essential items.

For its part, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) says it is ready to help up to 85,000 people with shelter and basic supplies, and has already pre-positioned 13,000 family kits – which contain blankets, tarpaulins, cooking sets, soap and jerry cans – with a further 2,000 kits in the pipeline.

At the same time, the UN refugee agency has sent a team to the Kenya-Uganda border, following reports that 600 Kenyans have arrived there.

The UN system in Kenya has appealed to the Kenyan Government and security forces to establish safe corridors for public transport, ensure that ongoing humanitarian operations are not disrupted and initiate a national reconciliation process at the earliest possible opportunity, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

Meanwhile, the UN's Disaster Management Team in the country is meeting today with the Kenyan Red Cross to assess humanitarian needs and determine how it can best help alleviate the current crisis.
2008-01-02 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF HAILS START OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR SPOTLIGHTING NEED FOR BETTER SANITATION

UNICEF HAILS START OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR SPOTLIGHTING NEED FOR BETTER SANITATION
New York, Jan 2 2008 2:00PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_42304.html">welcomed the start of the <"http://esa.un.org/iys/">International Year of Sanitation 2008 which draws attention to the plight of over 40 per cent of the world's population living without proper sanitation.

Thousands of women and children die every day from largely preventable causes, such as diarrhoeal diseases which are the second biggest killer of children under five, to which the lack of proper sanitation plays a part, the agency noted in a press release.

Improving sanitation for an estimated 2.6 billion people, including 980 million children, is one of the single biggest development challenges the world faces today, UNICEF said.

Speaking at the official launch of the Year at UN Headquarters in New York, held on 21 November 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/dev2649.doc.htm">said access to sanitation is one of the most "overlooked, and underserved human needs."

The International Year, which officially began yesterday, was established by the General Assembly in December 2006 to speed up progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goal (<" http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/#">MDG) number 7 – ensuring environmental sustainability – which includes halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Sanitation will be improved by promoting clean, safe toilets; wastewater management; and hygiene promotion. These measures prevent the transfer of pathogens in human excreta, which, if not treated properly, impacts health and can deprive children of an education as well as impede social and economic development.

Poor sanitation can contribute to absenteeism and poor classroom performance due to illness, low enrollment and early school dropout, especially for girls whose parents take them out of school when they begin menstruating.

During the course of the International Year, major regional conferences on sanitation will be held to share practices and bolster progress, as well as encourage public-private partnerships to raise awareness on the importance of the issue.

Many events will be held to commemorate Sanitation and Hygiene Week, from 15-21 March, and World Water Day on 22 March.
2008-01-02 00:00:00.000

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LIBERIA: SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UN PERSONNEL ON THE DECLINE

LIBERIA: SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UN PERSONNEL ON THE DECLINE
New York, Jan 2 2008 2:00PM
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (<" http://www.unmil.org/">UNMIL) has released its latest report on sexual exploitation and abuse which reveals a decrease in the number of allegations against its own staff in the last half of 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.

Only two allegations involving UNMIL personnel were reported from July to December 2007, the period covered by the latest report – which is part of UNMIL's efforts to implement the Organization's policy of keeping the public informed about measures taken to eradicate any incidents of such abuse by UN personnel. There were nine incidents reported during the same period in 2006.

UNMIL Military Police have completed their investigations into the two allegations, which are now being reviewed by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (<" http://www.un.org/depts/oios/">OIOS), the Mission said in a news release.

OIOS has finished investigating five of the seven allegations reported in the first half of 2007, and has recommended appropriate disciplinary action in the two cases that were substantiated.

While welcoming the decrease in allegations, UNMIL Officer-in-Charge Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Tahir stated that it would not lead the Mission to become complacent. "We will continue to exert every effort with the Government of Liberia, other local and international partners to ensure that any sexual misconduct involving UNMIL personnel is stopped."

He added that UNMIL will continue to sensitize the local population, especially women and children, to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse throughout Liberia. "We take seriously our moral obligation to care for and protect the people of Liberia from any harm that may result from our presence here," he stated.

Through its Conduct and Discipline Unit, UNMIL has been conducting outreach programmes in local communities targeting non-governmental organizations, women's groups, community-based organizations, youth groups, traditional leaders and teachers. It also continues to provide compulsory induction training on sexual exploitation and abuse to new arrivals in the Mission.

Conduct units have been set up in all major UN peacekeeping operations as part of the world body's efforts to stamp out sexual exploitation and abuse within its ranks.
2008-01-02 00:00:00.000

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NEARLY 60,000 BURUNDIAN RETURNEES RECEIVE SHELTER UNDER UN PROGRAMME

NEARLY 60,000 BURUNDIAN RETURNEES RECEIVE SHELTER UNDER UN PROGRAMME
New York, Jan 2 2008 11:00AM
Over the past five yeas, the United Nations refugee agency has assisted 58,000 Burundians returning to the small Central African country – which is emerging from decades of ethnic conflict – by helping them build their own homes, improve living conditions and ensure a sustainable return. </p>

With numbers of returnees expected to rise in 2008, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expects that it will have to expand its shelter programme in Burundi, one of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. </p>

All returnee families without homes are eligible to receive assistance from UNHCR to build a small three-room house, which cost the agency about $500 each. Priority is given to the most vulnerable households, particularly those headed by females and those including disabled or elderly members. </p>

The majority of refugees receiving assistance under the programme are provided with materials and then construct their new houses themselves, which helps to impart a greater sense of ownership and helps them acquire additional skills. </p>

Burundi has welcomed back some 380,000 refugees – or 5 per cent of the population – from surrounding countries since 2002. The housing programme is one of several reintegration measures that are vital to ensuring a sustainable return. </p>

UNHCR notes that most of the returnees making use of return programmes since 2002 have been subsistence farmers – and most have been able to recover their land. But more than 80 per cent of returnees have had to construct or buy new shelter, according to a study conducted earlier this year by UNHCR and the World Food Programme. </p>

Thanks to contributions from donors such as the European Commission and Japan, UNHCR will be able to provide at least 14,300 vulnerable families with shelter over the next year. </p>
2008-01-02 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN WEST DARFUR BETWEEN REBEL GROUP, GOVERNMENT

BAN KI-MOON VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN WEST DARFUR BETWEEN REBEL GROUP, GOVERNMENT
New York, Jan 1 2008 3:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep concern today over the resumption of hostilities between a rebel group and Government forces in West Darfur.

He spoke out against a 29 December attack by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Government positions in Silea, north of El Geneina, "as well as JEMâ??s publicly-stated intention to use force to address its concerns in Darfur," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Mr. Ban also voiced concern with the Governmentâ??s arrest - which took place on the premises of African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) premises - of Major General Bashir, the JEM representative to the Darfur Ceasefire Commission, along with five other JEM members on 30 December in El Fasher.

The Secretary-General said that he "strongly urges all parties to show restraint and cease all military action in order to create a positive atmosphere for political negotiations leading to a definitive and inclusive peace agreement."

Yesterday, General Martin Luther Agwai, the Commissionâ??s Chairman, noted these arrests with great concern, and has been in contact with both sides in a bid to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safe release of the JEM representatives.

AMIS troops exchanged their green headgear for the UN's blue beret today, when authority was transferred to the new AU-UN Mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID.

Authorized by the Security Council in July, UNAMID will have some 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police and civilian staff at full deployment. Currently, there are more than 9,000 uniformed personnel on the ground, including 7,000 troops and 1,200 police serving with the AMIS, as well as UN soldiers and police officers serving as part of the UN's "heavy" and "light support packages."

In a message to the handover ceremony, Mr. Ban emphasized the need for troop and police contributing countries to deploy their personnel as quickly

"If we are to have a real impact on the situation on the ground within the first half of 2008, these deployments must happen far more swiftly than they have done so far," the Secretary-General said in a statement read out by Joint UN-AU Special Representative and Head of UNAMID Rodolphe Adada.
2008-12-31 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON WARNS OF CRITICAL GAPS AS JOINT UN-AU FORCE TAKES OVER IN DARFUR

BAN KI-MOON WARNS OF CRITICAL GAPS AS JOINT UN-AU FORCE TAKES OVER IN DARFUR
New York, Jan 1 2008 9:00AM
The joint United Nations-African Union force set up to stem the violence in Darfur took the reigns today from the existing AU operation in the war-torn Sudanese region, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that critical gaps remain in what will be the world body's largest peacekeeping operation at full strength.

The official transfer of authority from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the hybrid force – with AU troops exchanging their green headgear for the UN's blue beret – took place at a ceremony in the North Darfur capital of El Fasher, the headquarters of the new UN-AU Mission in Darfur (<" http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID).

Authorized by the Security Council in July, UNAMID will have some 20,000 troops and more than 6,000 police and civilian staff at full deployment. Currently, there are more than 9,000 uniformed personnel on the ground, including 7,000 troops and 1,200 police serving with the AMIS, as well as UN soldiers and police officers serving as part of the UN's "heavy" and "light support packages" deployed to support AMIS over the last year.

In a message to the handover ceremony, Mr. Ban emphasized the need for troop and police contributing countries to deploy their personnel as quickly as possible. "If we are to have a real impact on the situation on the ground within the first half of 2008, these deployments must happen far more swiftly than they have done so far," the Secretary-General said in a <" http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2934">statement read out by Joint UN-AU Special Representative and Head of UNAMID Rodolphe Adada.

Mr. Ban added that critical gaps remained in the UNAMID force as no pledges have been received so far for ground and transportation units and aviation assets, which are essential to the mobility of the force and its ability to adequately protect the civilian population in the vast area of Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million forced to flee their homes since fighting began in 2003 between Government forces and rebel groups.

While noting that today marks "a new and profoundly challenging chapter in the history of United Nations peacekeeping," Mr. Ban stressed that UNAMID's deployment will only be as effective as the political process it is mandated to support.

He urged all parties to cease violence and come to the negotiating table to settle their differences. "Only after an inclusive peace agreement is reached will the outstanding grievances of all parties be addressed, and the requirements for a lasting solution to the crisis put in place," he said.

Echoing Mr. Ban's comments, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan stressed that comprehensive peace can only be achieved when all parts of the country have achieved peace and harmony. "We should all work towards a prosperous, peaceful and united Sudan," Ashraf Qazi stated, calling on all parties to the Darfur conflict to shun violence and participate in the peace process for the sake of the future generations.

Efforts on the political front are being led by the UN and AU Special Envoys for Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, who have been pursuing a political settlement to the crisis through negotiations aimed at a achieving a peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Darfurian movements.

Meanwhile, in a statement released on Sunday, the Chairman of the Darfur Ceasefire Commission, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, noted with great concern the arrest of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) representative to the Commission, Major General Bashir, and five other JEM members on Sunday in El Fasher.

Despite the efforts of the AMIS leadership to prevent the arrest, Government authorities stormed the premises housing the JEM representative early Sunday morning.

Gen. Agwai has been in contact with both JEM – one of Darfur's many rebel groups – and the Government of Sudan to de-escalate the tensions and ensure the safe release of the JEM representatives.
2007-12-31 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF OUTLINES CHALLENGES FOR 2008 IN LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN

UNICEF OUTLINES CHALLENGES FOR 2008 IN LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
New York, Jan 1 2008 9:00AM
Reducing infant mortality and chronic malnutrition, mitigating the impact of natural disasters, and slashing the toll of domestic violence, sexual exploitation and abuse are among the immediate challenges facing the United Nations Children's Fund (<" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_42303.html">UNICEF) in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2008.

"On child survival, we must continue to focus on the critical period after a mother gives birth and an infant's good start in life," UNICEF Regional Director Nils Kastberg said in a statement today, underlining the need for more public investment.

He called for greater support to increase breastfeeding and better prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while also providing HIV-positive mothers with treatment that would allow them to live to see their children grow up.

Preparedness before natural disasters must be improved to cut down on the catastrophic impact they have on families and towns and emergency responses must be accelerated to avoid loss of lives and livelihoods, which tend to affect women and children first, he added.

In a region where 80,000 young people die every year as a result of violence in the home, 2 million suffer commercial sexual exploitation and 6 million suffer severe abuse each year, remedial measures are crucial and urgent, Mr. Kastberg stressed.

He also called for more funds dedicated to programmes to create opportunities for adolescent development. "Specifically, we need to ensure that the 25 per cent to 30 per cent of adolescents and young people between 15 and 24 years of age, who are out of school or out of work, be better prepared to formally enter the working world," he said.

An important element to achieving this would be to expand basic education beyond primary school to include education from pre-primary to secondary, and to make it intercultural, of good quality and open to the different languages in the national cultural context.

"With 2008 being the international year of languages, it is timely to focus on that element of education," Mr. Kastberg said. "By providing a full and proper education, we can build a full and proper work force of young people."

In coordination with the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (<" http://www.eclac.org/default.asp?idioma=IN">ECLAC) and other UN agencies, one of UNICEF's challenges in 2008 will be to develop a reliable system to gather pertinent information from sub-national level, which would better reflect the social realities and disparities of the region.

Summing up UNICEF's programme for 2008, Mr. Kastberg concluded: "We would hope the end result of such efforts would mean that by this time next year, we would see an important shift for and among young people; that they would feel more confident of their role, their place and their rights in building the region – confident that change was happening with them and for them, and not at their expense."
2007-12-31 00:00:00.000

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