BAN KI-MOON SOUNDS ALARM ON VIOLENCE IN OUTSKIRTS OF SUDANESE CAPITAL

BAN KI-MOON SOUNDS ALARM ON VIOLENCE IN OUTSKIRTS OF SUDANESE CAPITAL New York, May 10 2008 10:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced grave concern over the fighting spurred by attacks by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces that has broken out on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Mr. Ban "condemns strongly the use of armed force and military means by JEM for the achievement of political ends and calls for an immediate cessation of fighting and a renewed commitment to a peaceful resolution of outstanding issues," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

He also expressed his anxiety over the impact of the recent violence on the overall situation in Sudan, as well as on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended 21 years of civil war between South Sudan and the national Government of the country, and the Darfur Agreement, targeting the war-torn region on the country's western flank.

Furthermore, the Secretary-General voiced concern over the "possible effect on the civilian lives and property of any escalation of such attack."

Yesterday, the UN and African Union (AU) envoys spearheading efforts to reach a lasting political solution in Darfur underlined the civilian suffering resulting from the fighting.

Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim said in a statement that they are "alarmed and deeply troubled" by the military escalation between the Government and JEM.

Noting that all sides have agreed that there is no military solution to the five-year conflict in Darfur, the parties must "act accordingly."

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.5 million displaced from their homes since 2003, when rebels began fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen in the arid and impoverished region of Darfur.

2008-05-10 00:00:00.000

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UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION DELEGATION KICKS OFF VISIT TO BURUNDI

UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION DELEGATION KICKS OFF VISIT TO BURUNDI New York, May 10 2008 7:00PM A delegation from the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) – established in to help countries recovering from war from sliding back into conflict – began a six-day mission to Burundi to assess how to help the small Central African nation rebuild.

Led by Ambassador Johan L. Løvald, Permanent Representative of Norway, the seven-member team will meet with Government authorities and representatives of regional groups including the African Union (AU) and the Conference on the Great Lakes Region, civil society, women's group, the private sector, religious leaders and journalists.

The mission, the PBC's second visit following its first last April, seeks to examine first-hand the situation on the ground, in particularly the resumed fighting between the National Defence Forces and the rebel Palipehutu-FNL forces.

A comprehensive ceasefire agreement was signed in 2006 in Burundi after a brutal civil war between its Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority, but sporadic violence has continued.

The delegates will also consider the priorities of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Burundi, adopted by the PBC in June 2007.
2008-05-10 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED NETWORK LINKING GLOBAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' FISHERIES REACHES 25-YEAR MARK

UN-BACKED NETWORK LINKING GLOBAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' FISHERIES REACHES 25-YEAR MARK New York, May 10 2008 2:00PM The FishInfoNetwork (FIN), a United Nations-organized network linking fisheries in developing countries, has reached its 25-year mark.

Set up by the UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO), the programme connects independent intergovernmental organizations to boost post-harvest handling and marketing of fish.

"The idea was to establish a network that could provide a multiplier effect and help FAO more comprehensively address these issues on the ground," said Lahsen Ababouch of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.

FIN works at the regional level in the developing world to promote fish trade, supply up-to-date information on markets and prices, bring buyers and sellers together and provide training in key areas such as processing technology and food safety issues.

Currently, the network -- which covers 87 developing nations -- comprises seven independent centres each focusing on a region, and these facilities are coordinated by Globafish, based at FAO's Rome headquarters.

"Each centre functions as a locus of expertise in the post-harvest sector of fisheries and aquaculture, including trade and marketing, implementing demand-driving activities targeted to the specific needs of the region where it is located," Mr. Ababouch noted.

Fisheries and aquaculture are crucial to the economies of many developing countries, with net earnings from the fish trade in these nations totaling more than $20 billion annually, providing employment and income to millions of people.

Globally, net earnings (exports minus imports) by developing countries from the fish trade totals over $20 billion per year. This provides employment and income to millions of people and is a source of government revenue that can be used for social services, all of which bolster food security and help improve family nutrition.

2008-05-10 00:00:00.000

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THOUGH MAKING 'VERY GOOD PROGRESS,' AFRICA STILL FACES CHALLENGES, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

THOUGH MAKING 'VERY GOOD PROGRESS,' AFRICA STILL FACES CHALLENGES, SAYS UN OFFICIAL New York, May 9 2008 8:00PM Africa is making "very good progress," but must tackle challenges in areas including transportation, infrastructure and water, a senior United Nations said today, as the annual Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is under way in New York.

Kathleen Abdalla, Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development, pointed to Africa's "unprecedented growth," with its economy growing some 6 per cent in 2005-2006 and 7 per cent last year. She also cited progress made in education, with more children attending primary school.

"But poverty remains high and there are many challenges in Africa," she <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2008/080509_Africa.doc.htm">told reporters at UN Headquarters.

Ms. Abdalla noted that agriculture productivity is low, and the continent must face other issues such as land tenure, credit availability and limited access to energy.

"One of the reasons that it's so important to deal with Africa in connection with agriculture is because a very substantial proportion of the labour force in many African countries still depends on agriculture," David O'Connor, Chief of the Policy Integration and Analysis Branch of the Division for Sustainable Development, said.

He cited that up to 60 per cent of the labour force works in agriculture. With the young age structure of the African population and the speedy population growth, ever greater numbers of people are entering the labour force every year.

"If agriculture cannot absorb them, of course, you have a serious problem," Mr. O'Connor observed, adding that it is extremely difficult to boost the productivity of labour with the number of people working in the agricultural sector increasing as quickly as it is.

Examples of successes in countries such as Ghana and Malawi show that "technology alone doesn't do it. Aid certainly doesn't do it," according to Peter Hartmann of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria.

Speaking to reporters at the press conference, he said that a holistic approach is necessary to address challenges to agriculture in Africa.

"There will be a lot of pain right now for the short term… but we need to look forward and see how we can bring to the world a new, more stable food system given the projections of demands and population growth," Mr. Hartmann said.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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ROMANIA: EVACUATION TRANSIT CENTRE TO BE CREATED - UN REFUGEE AGENCY

ROMANIA: EVACUATION TRANSIT CENTRE TO BE CREATED – UN REFUGEE AGENCY New York, May 9 2008 7:00PM An evacuation centre – the first of its kind in Europe – for those urgently needing international protection will be created in Romania, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today.

The agreement to establish the centre took place in Bucharest yesterday between the Romanian Government, <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/482469974.html">UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (<"http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp">IOM).

The new facility will "provide a temporary safe haven with effective and immediate protection for individuals or groups who need to be evacuated immediately from life-threatening situations before being resettled to other countries," Jennifer Pagonis, UNHCR spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva.

"We are grateful to the Government of Romania for this important contribution to our efforts to protect refugees against forced return and other threats to their physical safety," she added.

Noting that resettlement countries have committed to support this scheme, Ms. Pagonis appealed to other nations for financial assistance for the new centre.

In a related development, Belarus has signed an agreement with UNHCR and other organizations to regularly carry out joint border monitoring missions to ensure that asylum seekers have access to both the country and to asylum procedures.

The arrangement also covers counselling, medical and emergency aid, as well as help for those who are not eligible for international protection and wish to return to their home countries.

Belarus, a transit country and destination for migrants and asylum-seekers, maintains tight border controls with the three European Union (EU) nations – Lithuania, Poland and Latvia – it borders, while having an essentially open border with Russia.

This new scheme is part of a project funded by the EU. UNHCR entered into similar agreements with Hungary in 2006 and Slovakia last year, and are key elements of the agency's 10 Point Plan of Action for Eastern and South Eastern borders of the EU on handling flows of migrants and asylum seekers.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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UN APPEALS FOR $187 MILLION TO AID MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS

UN APPEALS FOR $187 MILLION TO AID MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS New York, May 9 2008 6:00PM The United Nations today appealed for $187 million to help provide humanitarian relief to some 1.5 million people severely affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar for the next six months.

Launching the <"http://ochaonline.un.org/humanitarianappeal/webpage.asp?Page=1665">Flash Appeal in New York on behalf of 10 UN agencies and 9 non-governmental organizations, the UN's top relief official emphasized that "the extent of the humanitarian catastrophe is enormous."

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes noted that the number of those severely affected is between 1.2 and 1.9 million. But he added that "the numbers of people in need may well increase further as we come to understand better the situation on the ground."

Cyclone Nargis, which struck the South-East Asian nation on 2 May, left a path of death and destruction across the Irrawaddy delta region and the country's largest city, Yangon. The Government estimates that more than 22,000 people have died and over 41,000 remain missing.

Mr. Holmes noted that the number of deaths has been climbing daily and "could be anywhere between 63,000 and 100,000, or possibly even higher."

Stressing the need to act quickly and for the Government to facilitate aid delivery, he said that "the sooner humanitarians are allowed in, and the less procedural and other obstacles we encounter, the more lives we can help save."

He later told reporters that countries at the launch voiced strong hope that the cooperation which is necessary between the international community and the authorities in Myanmar will be "as forthcoming, as flexible, and as rapid as possible to make sure that not only material relief goods can get in but also humanitarian aid workers."

Today's Appeal covers 12 areas, with the largest portion of the funding sought for food, water and sanitation, logistics, health and shelter. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking $56 million to provide daily food rations to 630,000 people in severely affected areas or temporary shelters.

Also, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has appealed for $10 million to assist poor farming and fishing communities devastated by Cyclone Nargis, which made landfall in the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) delta region last Friday and then moved on to Myanmar's largest city, Yangon.

FAO said the five worst-affected areas – Ayeyarwady, Yangon and Bago Divisions, and Mon and Kayin states – are considered Myanmar's food bowl, producing much of the country's staple food of rice and fish, and the overall food security situation in Myanmar is "seriously threatened."

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which is appealing for $3 million, said today that tens of thousands of pregnant women made homeless by the cyclone urgently need lifesaving assistance. UNFPA is working with humanitarian partners to mobilize emergency reproductive health supplies, including safe delivery kits, for those affected.

The agency added that disasters like Cyclone Nargis put expectant mothers and their babies at special risk because of the sudden loss of medical support, compounded by trauma, malnutrition and disease. Another $8.2 million is being sought by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to meet the critical needs of children and women in the wake of the tragedy.

Mr. Holmes said he will be allocating $20 million immediately from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to projects from the Flash Appeal to help ensure that the most urgent needs can be addressed quickly. Some $77 million has been pledged so far by countries, toward the Appeal and in bilateral assistance.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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MORE THAN 100 STATES REVIEW GLOBAL PACT ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONTROL - UN

MORE THAN 100 STATES REVIEW GLOBAL PACT ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONTROL – UN New York, May 9 2008 6:00PM Over 100 States took part in a two-week meeting seeking to pave the way towards the review of the United Nations-backed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which forms the foundation of the world's nuclear non-proliferation regime.

This gathering, which wrapped up today, was the second of three sessions of the Preparatory Committee of the Parties to the Treaty on the NPT.

Participants held constructive discussions on substantive issues, such as nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, nuclear weapon-free zones and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The meeting ended with the adoption of a report detailing substantive and procedural issues.

Both the third session of the Committee, to be held from 4 to 15 May 2009, and the Review Conference, from 26 April to 21 May 2010, will take place in New York.

The UN serves as the Secretariat for the NPT.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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DENMARK A LEADER ON COMBATING TORTURE, BUT UN EXPERT HAS SOME CONCERNS

DENMARK A LEADER ON COMBATING TORTURE, BUT UN EXPERT HAS SOME CONCERNS New York, May 9 2008 6:00PM While lauding Denmark's efforts to combat torture, an independent United Nations human rights expert who just visited the country said the country still has room for progress.

In a statement issued today to mark the completion of his visit to both Denmark and Greenland, Manfred Nowak said that Denmark "is the central player in mobilizing the international community by putting forth resolutions on combating torture every year," and added that, "without question, the international community has much to benefit from Denmark's example."

Mr. Nowak, who is the UN's Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, said that he had "received no allegations of torture and very few complaints of ill-treatment from detainees."

He said there was generally a "high standard of conditions of detention inside Danish prisons," and cited the fact that many jails in Denmark are open institutions and have a mix of male and female prisoners, with facilities for children of imprisoned parents.

At the same time, Mr. Nowak expressed some reservations about Denmark's record. He called for a specific crime of torture to be included in Denmark's criminal law, and said that the use of solitary confinement should be reduced, "based on unequivocal evidence of its negative mental health effects upon detainees."

Mr. Nowak also called on Denmark to refrain from using "diplomatic assurances" to allow suspected terrorists to return to countries known for their practice of torture.

Referring to Greenland, the Special Rapporteur said he "regretted" that action against domestic violence has so far not received adequate attention despite the severity of the problem." Mr. Nowak recommended that Greenland's Government develop and implement a plan of action on domestic violence.

He also welcomed a Danish Government investigation into alleged rendition flights of suspects by the United States Central Intelligence Agency, using flights through Denmark and Greenland.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON 'DEEPLY CONCERNED' AT CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN LEBANON

BAN KI-MOON 'DEEPLY CONCERNED' AT CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN LEBANON New York, May 9 2008 4:00PM The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed his deep concern at the continuing violence in Lebanon and has called on all parties to exercise restraint.

Lebanon's capital Beirut has been rocked by clashes between pro- and anti-government militias for the past three days. The country's parliamentary system is paralysed and the position of President has remained unfilled since November.

"Everything should be done at this time to keep the situation from deteriorating. The parties should address their political differences through peaceful means and dialogue," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

She added that Mr. Ban is aware of the continuing mediation role of the Secretary-General of the Arab League and offered his full support.

In a statement to the press read out yesterday by Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, which holds the Security Council's rotating presidency for May, the 15-member body stressed the need to uphold the stability and sovereignty of Lebanon, urged all sides to exercise calm and restraint, and called for the immediate re-opening of all roads.

This followed a briefing to the Council by UN Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, who said that Lebanon is facing its worst crisis since the country's civil war. He said that all militias in the country had to be disarmed and that political dialogue among the Lebanese parties was the only way to resolve outstanding issues.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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UN, FIFA JOIN FORCES TO SCORE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

UN, FIFA JOIN FORCES TO SCORE DEVELOPMENT GOALS New York, May 9 2008 4:00PM Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 deadline for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the world body and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association have agreed to further their collaboration to enhance the role of sports in furthering peace.

The decision was reached at a meeting today at FIFA headquarters in Zurich between the football organization's President, Joseph S. Blatter, and Wilfried Lemke, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace.

"In recent years much has been achieved using football, as the world's most popular sport, as well as other sports" in areas including health, children's rights, education and the fight against racism, said Mr. Lemke, who served as the general manager of the first division German football club Werder Bremen for 18 years.

"These efforts exemplify the important role sport can play in the achievement of the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs," he added, commending FIFA's "Football for Hope" initiative seeking to further development targets.

The FIFA head stressed that the upcoming World Cup in South Africa "represents a great opportunity and a major responsibility to provide the country as well as the whole African continent with the means to progress and develop."

Next month, Mr. Lemke, appointed to his current position on 18 March, is slated to attend the UN Human Settlements Programme (<"http://www.unhabitat.org/">UN-HABITAT) International Youth Crime Prevention and Cities Summit in Durban, and will also meet with the local organizing committee of the World Cup in the South African city.

Also today in Zurich, he held talks with Johann Koss, four-time Olympic gold medal winning speed skater, who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and runs the non-governmental organization Right to Play (RTP).
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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FOOD CRISIS, MYANMAR FEATURE IN ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT'S TALKS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS

FOOD CRISIS, MYANMAR FEATURE IN ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT'S TALKS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS New York, May 9 2008 3:00PM General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim is wrapping up his official visit to Turkey, where he discussed issues such as the global food crisis, the recent tragedy in Myanmar and United Nations reform with the country's officials.

As Mr. Kerim and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the global food crisis, the President noted that "this is an issue where articulate and well coordinated action on the part of all Member States of the United Nations is necessary."

He said he expected the international Task Force set up by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week to tackle the global rise in food prices "to make an immediate assessment of the scope and nature of the problem of the crisis and as soon as we have that assessment, the General Assembly can make an evaluation about what should be done and how it can be engaged."

The Task Force, which brings together the heads of key UN agencies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and experts from the around the globe, will hold its first meeting in New York next Monday.

In addition, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council has announced it will hold a special session on the food crisis on 23 May.

Mr. Kerim told Prime Minister Erdogan that he would support convening a special session of the Assembly, as the solution to the crisis had to be on a political level. He also called for world leaders to give their full support to the UN high-level meeting on the issue to be convened from 3 to 5 June in Rome.

Prime Minister Erdogan agreed that any response to the food crisis should be within the framework of the UN.

The situation in Myanmar, where an estimated 1.5 million people are in need of humanitarian aid following last weekend's deadly cyclone, was also discussed. The President reiterated the urgency with which the authorities in Myanmar should fully cooperate with the international community, particularly the UN.

The President and the Prime Minister also discussed current Assembly priorities including UN reform, a topic that also featured in Mr. Kerim's talks with President Abdullah Gul. The Turkish leader supported the idea of the intermediary approach as the one best to achieve results at this stage. At the same time, he also agreed with Mr. Kerim that a more profound reform, which went beyond numbers, was ultimately necessary.

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan also expressed similar views on Council reform during his meeting with Mr. Kerim. In addition, the two men focused on the activities of Turkey in support of UN peacekeeping activities and in the Alliance of Civilization initiative. The Foreign Minister noted that Turkey will be hosting the Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in April 2009. He also stressed Islam and modernity are not conflicting concepts.

President Kerim also drew attention to the potential for Turkey to play a unique role in development issues as a middle-income donor country with a clear interest in the affairs of least developed countries. At the request of the UN Country Team, Mr. Kerim also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister of having the Turkish Government facilitate the building of a new UN House in Ankara.

While in Turkey, Mr. Kerim also delivered a lecture at Bilkent University on the role of the UN in the era of globalization. Among other topics, he focused on the need to change the way international organizations operate in a new global environment characterized by the rise of non-State actors.

He pointed out that in an evolving international system prone to rapid changes and crisis situations, traditional attributes of power lost their significance, speed was more important than size and the traditional balance of power based on deterrence had to give way to a new understanding based on an equilibrium of shared interests.

The UN provided the most suitable framework for this new culture of international relations as it has the broadest global agenda, a near universal membership and a unique convening power, the President said.

Mr. Kerim now heads to Egypt, where he will be meeting with Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and address the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, before travelling on to Israel.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES US BUSINESS LEADERS TO HELP FIGHT GLOBAL POVERTY

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES US BUSINESS LEADERS TO HELP FIGHT GLOBAL POVERTY New York, May 9 2008 3:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged members of the business community in the United States city of Atlanta to help the United Nations in its efforts to combat global poverty, arguing that this is good for the world and the bottom line.

"Never has the global corporate community been so engaged as it is today," he said. "Look at what the Gates Foundation is doing in health care. Look how Rotary International, supported by Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and some of your most forward-looking companies, is on the verge of eradicating polio."

The world's poorest need international help from a range of players, he said. "The United Nations cannot do it alone. We need you."

He argued for an approach that promotes self-sufficiency. "Unless the world's poor become better able to fend for themselves, they – and we – are lost," he told the gathering at the headquarters of the Coca Cola company, which is a member of the UN's voluntary corporate citizen initiative known as the Global Compact.

The Secretary-General said companies are introducing new technologies that are sparking local entrepreneurship and, in the process, creating growth and promoting new markets. "Vodaphone and Tata, to name but two, have discovered that cell phones are about far more than voice communication. Poor farmers in Africa and India use them to check market prices and get information about when and what to plant. This transforms their lives."

Sales are "exploding," he said, and "along the way, both companies find that they are contributing in a big way to solving the global food crisis – by advancing local development and helping to boost agricultural production."

Some 5,000 companies, in 120 countries, belong to the UN's Global Compact. Addressing those that have not joined the initiative, the Secretary-General said, "I urge you to sign up. After all, we are in this together."
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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DJIBOUTI TO WORK WITH UN TO ELIMINATE FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

DJIBOUTI TO WORK WITH UN TO ELIMINATE FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION New York, May 9 2008 2:00PM Djibouti has become the first country to launch a joint programme by United Nations agencies to move more quickly to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM).

The joint programme, run by the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA), is to begin in a country where nine out of every ten females has undergone the harmful practice.

Djibouti's First Lady, Kadra Mahamoud Haïd, who officially launched the programme yesterday, said that it was "a route towards social progress, a tool to fulfil basic human rights, especially on integrity and dignity for girls and women." She also noted that, since FGM is gender-based violence, the Government of Djibouti, "has set up legal and institutional mechanisms to eradicate the violence."

A World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) study in six African countries found that women who have undergone FGM face significantly higher risks of extensive bleeding, prolonged labour and death when giving birth.

UNICEF estimates that around 3 million girls are at risk of FGM every year.

Speaking on behalf of the UN, Margaret Thuo said that "every community desires to live in dignity and with security," but added that this is not possible when the human rights of one segment of society are denied.

Djibouti's Minister of Women's Promotion, Family Welfare and Social Affairs, Nimo Boulhan, said, "whatever the justifications are, we need to address this problem and stop subjecting girls and women to unnecessary suffering."

The UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme and Trust Fund to accelerate the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting aims to build partnerships with Government, donors, foundations, the media and religious leaders.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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MONEY RUNNING OUT FOR IRAQI REFUGEE CRISIS, WARNS UN AGENCY

MONEY RUNNING OUT FOR IRAQI REFUGEE CRISIS, WARNS UN AGENCY New York, May 9 2008 1:00PM The United Nations refugee said today that it could soon be forced to reduce or even halt assistance to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees unless donors provide more funds.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/48246c3c4.html">UNHCR) said there was a $127 shortfall for health, education and food assistance for Iraqi refugees. "We will not be able to help hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable Iraqi refugees and internally displaced if we do not receive funding for the remainder of 2008," said High Commissioner António Guterres. "Without this support, the humanitarian crisis we have faced over the past two years may grow even larger," he added.

A total of 4.7 million Iraqis have been uprooted as a result of the crisis in their country. Of these over 2 million are living as refugees in neighbouring countries – mostly Syria and Jordan – while 2.7 million are internally displaced inside Iraq.

UNHCR said that, without extra funding, it would not be able to cover all the basic health needs of Iraqi refugees, and many seriously ill Iraqis will not be able to receive their monthly medication. A growing number of Iraqis are fleeing their country in search of medical treatment after the collapse of health services in their homeland. Since January some 170,000 refugees have received basic health care assistance in Syria and Jordan.

In addition, UNHCR may be forced to reduce food aid to 150,000 refugees, forcing them into "further destitution," while efforts to double the number of Iraqi refugee children in school, from 70,000 to 140,000 may have to be cut back, leaving many of them to miss out on education.

Omar, a 69-year-old refugee from Baghdad, interviewed by UNHCR, said that he will die a "slow death" if assistance is stopped. His family has depended on food and medical aid since arriving in Syria in 2006, and pay rent out of remittances from Iraq which he described as "our only way to survive."

In a related development, UNHCR announced it had contracted the International Medical Corps (IMC) to run clinics in Damascus, the first time an international non-governmental organization (INGO) has worked with Iraqi refugees in Syria.

To date, INGOs have not been given permission to work with Iraqi refugees in Syria. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has been UNHCR's main partner along with a number of small local charities. IMC will start work at a time when Syrian Arab Red Crescent clinics are facing rising numbers of Iraqi patients. UNHCR surveys have found that more than 18 per cent of registered Iraqi refugees in Syria suffer from a serious medical condition.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: UN, AU ENVOYS ALARMED BY VIOLENCE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBELS

DARFUR: UN, AU ENVOYS ALARMED BY VIOLENCE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBELS New York, May 9 2008 1:00PM Speaking out against the recent stepped up violence between the Sudanese Government's forces and a rebel group, the United Nations and African Union (AU) envoys spearheading efforts to reach a durable political settlement in the war-ravaged Darfur region today underscored the civilian suffering resulting from the fighting.

Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim said in a statement that they are "alarmed and deeply troubled" by the military escalation between the Government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

Noting that all sides have agreed that there is no military solution to the five-year conflict in Darfur, the parties must "act accordingly."

The statement added that "this escalation can only cause more suffering for the people and more damage and destruction for Darfur," and urged the sides to refrain from taking further military action.

"The parties have a serious responsibility to ensure the protection of innocent civilians who have suffered far too long," Mr. Eliasson and Mr. Salim stated.

"The deteriorating situation in Darfur and the region bring further urgency for the need to engage in dialogue on security issues, to lay the basis for a serious peace process in Darfur."

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.5 million displaced from their homes since 2003, when rebels began fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen in the arid and impoverished region on Sudan's western flank.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the recent bombings of villages in North Darfur which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, and called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON GATHERS GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO IMPROVE CARE FOR WORLD'S POOREST

BAN KI-MOON GATHERS GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO IMPROVE CARE FOR WORLD'S POOREST New York, May 9 2008 1:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and global health leaders meeting at the Carter Center in the United States city of Atlanta today agreed on measures to help make childbirth safer and tackle other challenges facing the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.

"We are here not only because global health is an enormous challenge, but also because we can do something about it," Mr. Ban said at a press conference following his meeting with leading global health experts from civil society, academia, philanthropy and the private sector gathered at the Carter Center, with its founder, former US President Jimmy Carter, in attendance.

The meeting attracted the participation of Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, and previous WHO chief Gro Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway and a member of the Elders, a group of world leaders whose goal is to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity in tackling some of the world's toughest problems.

The Secretary-General said participants had a productive session. "We have achieved consensus on the urgency of strengthening health systems to serve all, especially the poorest and most vulnerable," he said.

Maternal health was a key focus of the discussions. "We have outlined concrete options to make the process of giving birth safer for mothers, and debated concrete means to improve women's health," the Secretary-General announced.

A mother dies every minute from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal health is the slowest moving target of the Millennium Development Goals – the goals that all countries have agreed to reach by 2015 to lift people out of poverty.

"It is unacceptable that over half a million mothers die every year," declared Mr. Ban. "We must put a stop to these senseless deaths."

Dr. Chan said women's health is critical. "The world in the last 20 years failed to take care of its women," she said. The maternal mortality rate had not budged in those two decades. She decried the fact that half a billion women die in childbirth each year and another half a billion suffer from neglected tropical diseases.

Dr. Brundtland agreed that "on the side of mothers, the world is really far away from any improvements and we need to now focus again so that we don't have a woman dying every minute because of childbirth." She said the international community knows what works. "The resources are not outrageous – $10 billion is nothing in our world today to really make a serious impact on these kinds of issues," she said.

The Secretary-General said participants also targeted neglected diseases like guinea worm and river blindness that "can be eliminated if we only take the time to do so."

More than 1 billion people — one sixth of the world's population — suffer from one or more tropical diseases that are neglected in terms of the international response. Experts say eradication of some of these diseases is possible if treatment is scaled up in the poorest countries, but they caution that functioning and affordable health systems must be in place for progress to be achieved.

President Carter said this was "one of the most important meetings" that he would attend this year. He stressed that to address global health problems, "it is not only a matter of health care but of economic progress for the poorest people on earth."

In his comments to reporters, Mr. Ban also expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar, calling on the authorities to allow aid and humanitarian workers into the country without any hindrance. "I appeal to them strongly to do all they can to facilitate this aid."

Mr. Ban warned that inaction would be deadly. "If early action is not taken and relief measures put in place, the medium-term effect of this tragedy could be truly catastrophic," he said, calling for an end to political differences to address the tremendous challenges ahead. "The sheer survival of the affected people is at stake."
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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KILLING OF KENYA STAFFER SECOND LOSS THIS WEEK FOR UN FOOD AGENCY

KILLING OF KENYA STAFFER SECOND LOSS THIS WEEK FOR UN FOOD AGENCY New York, May 9 2008 12:00PM The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2832">WFP) has spoken out against the murder of the head of its office in north-western Kenya who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, the second such killing of the agency's staff this week.

Silence Chirara, a 37-year-old father of two who was coordinator of WFP's logistics operation for southern Sudan, was ambushed on Wednesday while driving a clearly marked UN vehicle in the town of Lokichoggio. The gunmen escaped.

"We are all shocked at this savage killing of Silence Chirara and condemn it in the strongest terms," said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Representative in Sudan, who flew to Lokichoggio on Thursday.

Mr. Chirara, a Zimbabwean national who joined WFP in 1996, had worked in Iraq, Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe and Indonesia. He started working in Lokichoggio, a major relief hub and access route for aid delivery to southern Sudan, in March 2006.

"In all the places that Silence served, he was an incredible source of comfort and help to his colleagues. He was a valued Logistics Officer known to never step away from a challenge. This is a moment of great sorrow, for Silence's family, especially his wife and two children, friends and those at WFP who worked side-by-side with him over the years," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

UN Security and the Kenyan police are investigating the crime.

Earlier this week, one of WFP's truck drivers in Somalia was shot dead by militiamen who stopped the agency's food convoy at an illegal checkpoint.

UN Security and the Kenyan police are investigating the crime.

Earlier this week, one of WFP's truck drivers in Somalia was shot dead by militiamen who stopped the agency's food convoy at an illegal checkpoint.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED SCHEME TARGETS INEQUALITY IN NEPAL'S RURAL COMMUNITIES

UN-BACKED SCHEME TARGETS INEQUALITY IN NEPAL'S RURAL COMMUNITIES New York, May 9 2008 11:00AM The United Nations rural development arm announced today that it is providing $4 million towards a project that aims to tackle the exclusion of groups such as women, dalits and indigenous peoples in rural communities in Nepal.

The Poverty Alleviation Fund is a $113 million community-driven project partly financed by the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/">IFAD), and which focuses on groups that have been traditionally excluded, mainly for reasons of gender, ethnic origin, caste and location.

The pilot phase of the project began in 2004 in six of the poorest and most remote districts of Nepal. Once it took off and demand grew, it quickly expanded to its activities to 25 districts.

The grant agreement signed today in Rome by Lennart Båge, IFAD's President, and Krishna Gyawali, Nepal's Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, will support the project's second phase, which involves continuing the work from the pilot phase and expanding it to all 75 districts by the end of the year.

Among its many benefits, the project will build roads and bridges, improve water supplies, sanitation, schools and health services, and develop community infrastructure such as small-scale irrigation. It will also help create opportunities for the poorest and most excluded people to earn an income.

"The Poverty Alleviation Fund is seen as a model because of its successful track record in effectively reaching poor communities and marginalized groups within them," said Kati Manner, IFAD's country programme manager for Nepal.

The project brings to 12 the number of IFAD-supported programmes and projects in Nepal, with loans and grants worth $130.9 million.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIAL IN ASIA-PACIFIC JOINS CALL FOR URGENT ACCESS TO MYANMAR

TOP UN OFFICIAL IN ASIA-PACIFIC JOINS CALL FOR URGENT ACCESS TO MYANMAR New York, May 9 2008 10:00AM Echoing calls on the Myanmar authorities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in the wake of the deadly cyclone which has left some 1.5 million people in need, the top United Nations official in the region today urged the Government to act quickly to avert an even worse tragedy.

"The situation is getting critical and there is only a small window of opportunity if we are to avert the spread of diseases that could multiply the already tragic number of casualties," said Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (<"http://www.unescap.org/unis/sub_unis/press_releases.asp">ESCAP).

The UN humanitarian chief has warned that the situation in Myanmar following last weekend's cyclone has become "increasingly desperate." The storm left a path of death and destruction across the Irrawaddy delta region and the country's largest city, Yangon.

Both Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have voiced their disappointment at the limited progress made in gaining access to Myanmar, where some 1.5 million people are believed to be severely affected by the disaster.

Ms. Heyzer "urged again the Myanmar authorities to issue visas expeditiously, and if possible, exempt all visa requirements for all UN aid workers, so that aid can reach the people as quickly as possible."

She also said she plans to personally go as soon as possible to Myanmar to show her solidarity with the people of the South-East Asian nation and to meet with the Government to discuss access and humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, UN agencies are continuing to mobilize efforts to assist those in need. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/48242c4f4.html">UNHCR) said today it is hoping to start airlifting 57 tonnes of emergency shelter – for some 22,000 people – from its stockpile in Dubai.

The first load of 32 tonnes of aid cargo – mainly urgently needed shelter materials such as plastic sheeting, blankets and kitchen sets – is set to be transported on a UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?">WFP) aircraft, with another 25 tonnes of supplies expected to be airlifted over the weekend on a joint charter flight.

The agency is also emptying its stockpile in north-western Thailand to deliver some 5,000 plastic sheets and some 200 tents to people in desperate need of shelter across the border.

"We are seeking all possible means to send urgent shelter materials and household supplies to victims of the recent cyclone in Myanmar," UNHCR's Jennifer Pagonis told reporters.

Later today UNHCR will join other members of the UN humanitarian family in launching a Flash Appeal to donors to assist with the emergency response efforts.
2008-05-09 00:00:00.000

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PACT WITH UN AIMS TO BOOST GHANA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PACT WITH UN AIMS TO BOOST GHANA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT New York, May 8 2008 7:00PM A new agreement signed between the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Ghana aims to boost the West African nation's economic development and bolster its standing with the international business community.

<"http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en">WIPO Director General Dr. Kamil Idris welcomed the development, saying it "marked a new chapter" in the agency's cooperation with Ghana. The Intellectual Property Development Plan "offered a comprehensive and coherent approach to establishing a robust intellectual property framework that will support the country's development objectives," he added.

The Plan is "timely as Ghana is at the dawn of its economic take-off," the country's Attorney General and Justice Minister, Joe Ghartey, said following the signing. He added that progress in administrative reform "was boosting his country's standing within the international business community."

The Development Plan seeks to establish a better system for users of intellectual property rights – such as universities, small- and medium-sized enterprises, chambers of commerce and industry, research and development institutions, the judiciary, and copyright organizations – and aims to make sure they have the technical capacity to use the system.

It also promotes the development of creative industries, electronic commerce and agriculture.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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MIGRATORY BIRDS THREATENED BY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, UN WARNS

MIGRATORY BIRDS THREATENED BY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, UN WARNS New York, May 8 2008 6:00PM Numbers of migratory birds – considered to be some of the best gauges of the state of global biodiversity – are plunging in the face of a changing environment, the United Nations Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=535&ArticleID=5803&l=en">UNEP) warned today.

Marking World Migratory Bird Day, the agency said that the decline is being recorded for many species along all of the main migration corridors, which birds utilize on their journeys, spanning thousands of miles, between their breeding and wintering grounds.

"Migratory birds are some of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet and in many countries bird watching is an economically important leisure and tourism activity," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"But migratory birds are more than this. Their dependence on healthy habitats and ecosystems makes them among the key indicators as to whether the international community is truly addressing the decline and erosion of the planet's nature-based assets."

The Day – focusing on the theme "Migratory Birds – Ambassadors for Biodiversity" – will be marked on the weekend of 10-11 May with concerts, films and other public events to highlight the ever-increasing threat to migratory birds and to global biodiversity.

Although the reasons behind the drop in numbers of migratory birds are complex and are specific to certain species, the overall decline is a reflection of the larger environmental problem tied to the global loss of habitats and biodiversity.

UNEP noted that 41 per cent of the 522 migratory waterbird populations on the routes linking Africa and Eurasia are witnessing their populations drop, and it has been reported that numbers of migratory songbirds using the same corridors are also on the decline.

Meanwhile, numbers of Boreal birds in the Western Hemisphere, such as the Canadian Warbler, which migrate from northern Canada to South America, are plummeting because they are losing their forest breeding grounds.

Vulnerable to changes in the environment, migratory birds are dependent on stop-over sites to rest and refuel as they make their long voyages, but these locations are threatened or disappear as a result of agricultural, urban, infrastructural and industrial development.

Climate change also plays an important role, as climbing global temperatures result in larger deserts and more frequent storms, which could lead to rising sea levels and impede migration.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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SOUTHERN CHAD RELATIVELY STABLE DESPITE INFLUX OF REFUGEES, SAYS UN

SOUTHERN CHAD RELATIVELY STABLE DESPITE INFLUX OF REFUGEES, SAYS UN New York, May 8 2008 6:00PM A good level of security prevails in southern Chad, despite concerns over road banditry and an influx of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR), says the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the two countries.

The refugees are arriving from the border town of Gore, where local officials met a delegation from the UN mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT, on Monday.

The Prefect of Gore told the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Victor Angelo, that there were "no insecurity problems here the way you will see it in eastern Chad," but also asked for assistance to cope with the flow of refugees into the area, according to a news release issued by the mission.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that the total number of refugees in Chad is some 296,000, of whom 53,000 are Central Africans while the rest are Sudanese.

Mr. Angelo expressed satisfaction for the work of the humanitarian community as well as the local authorities, and said he was delighted that the security situation in the region is under control. "I commend you for the good work that you are doing, and I assure you of all my support in order to reinforce your capacities in the security sector," he told local officials.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUDS 'INTENSE' DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ON BOLIVIA

SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUDS 'INTENSE' DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ON BOLIVIA New York, May 8 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the "intense diplomatic work" being carried out by the Organization of American States (OAS), the Group of Friends of Bolivia – comprising Argentina, Brazil and Colombia – and others with regard to political developments in Bolivia.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11555.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said that he "welcomes the call for dialogue made by the OAS in its resolution of 3 May and urges all political and social actors to seek a consensus on the pressing issues affecting the Bolivian people."

According to media reports, tensions have been high in the South American nation since last weekend, when the region of Santa Cruz held an autonomy referendum.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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LEBANON FACES MOST SERIOUS CRISIS SINCE CIVIL WAR - UN ENVOY

LEBANON FACES MOST SERIOUS CRISIS SINCE CIVIL WAR – UN ENVOY New York, May 8 2008 4:00PM The stalled political process in Lebanon, combined with the current violence on the streets and the "defiant manoeuvres of militias," is leaving the country struggling to function as a sovereign, democratic State, United Nations Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen told the Security Council today.

"The riots that started yesterday in Lebanon show tragically that the country today confronts challenges of a magnitude unseen since the end of the civil war," <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9326.doc.htm">said Mr. Roed-Larsen.

"The electoral void combined with the stalled functions of Parliament and the defiant manoeuvres of militias are all threats to Lebanon's ability to function as a sovereign, democratic and independent State," he added, speaking as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559.

Adopted by the Council in 2004, resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1559(2004)">1559 calls for free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon without any foreign interference or influence, and for the disbandment of all militia groups operating in the country. Mr. Larsen said that he regretted he had no progress to report on the resolution over the past six months.

Speaking later to reporters, Mr. Larsen said that the Secretary-General "calls for all parties now to show restraint, to find a solution to the current impasse and the current violence, through peaceful dialogue," and added that the Security Council had unanimously called for "calm and restraint."

Since last November the country has been deadlocked on the election of a new president, with the position remaining vacant. Yesterday and today pro- and anti-government militias have been battling on the streets of Beirut. Mr. Roed-Larsen commented that, "Lebanon for a long time now – several months and more – has been on a slippery slope of violence and turmoil," adding that "it is in the deep interest not only of the Lebanese but of the whole region and beyond to now stabilize the situation in Lebanon."

While calling for the disarming of all militias in the country, the UN Envoy said that Hizbullah, the most significant Lebanese militia, "maintains a massive para-military infrastructure separate from the State." This had "an adverse effect" on the Government's efforts to impose law and order and was "a threat to regional peace and security."

The Secretary-General, said Mr. Roed-Larsen, calls on all parties with ties to Hizbullah, "in particular Syria and Iran, to support its transformation into a solely political party."

The Special Envoy urged a return to political dialogue among the Lebanese parties, stressing that this was "the only way to resolve all outstanding issues."
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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FRUSTRATION GROWING OVER LACK OF ACCESS TO MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS - UN

FRUSTRATION GROWING OVER LACK OF ACCESS TO MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS – UN New York, May 8 2008 3:00PM The United Nations humanitarian chief today voiced disappointment at the limited progress made in gaining access to Myanmar, where some 1.5 million people are believed to be severely affected by the recent cyclone and the situation is becoming "increasingly desperate."

Cyclone Nargis, which made landfall in the Irrawaddy delta region on Friday, left tens of thousands of people dead in its wake and hundreds of thousands without shelter. The storm, which also hit Myanmar's largest city Yangon later that same night, tore down trees and power lines and caused widespread flooding.

"There's a real danger that an even worse tragedy may unfold if we cannot get the aid that's desperately needed in quickly," John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told journalists.

He said that while there had been a little bit of progress in gaining access to the country since he last briefed the press yesterday, much more was needed in terms of the granting of visas and easing of regulations, given the "increasingly desperate situation" on the ground.

"Frustrations have been growing that this humanitarian response is being held back because of difficulties of access in different ways," he said, noting that many visas are still pending.

Mr. Holmes reported that two members of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/FieldCoordinationSupportSection/UNDACSystem/tabid/1414/Default.aspx">UNDAC) team that is supposed to travel to Myanmar to coordinate relief efforts together with the national authorities are now in Yangon. However, two other members were not allowed in when they arrived "for reasons which we are still trying to establish."

Since yesterday, the authorities have agreed that customs charges and clearances should be waived for aid delivery, he said, adding that it is not clear whether that has been made fully operational on the ground.

"I do appeal very strongly indeed to the Government of Myanmar both to step up their own relief efforts to help people on the ground and to change their attitude completely to the efforts that we are making to get these relief supplies in."

He added that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is attempting to talk to Senior General Than Shwe to urge him to facilitate access.

In a related development, Mr. Ban has noted the Government's decision to proceed with the constitutional referendum scheduled for 10 May, while postponing it in some of the areas most affected by the cyclone.

"Due to the scope of the disaster facing Myanmar today, however, the Secretary-General believes that it may be prudent to focus instead on mobilizing all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts," his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11556.doc.htm">statement.

In terms of humanitarian aid getting through, Mr. Holmes reported that the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) was able to get four flights containing relief supplies into Yangon today. There are now more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits available on the ground in Yangon which will be distributed as soon as possible to those that need them.

In addition, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) is in the process of sending 3 million water purification tablets – enough to provide clean water to 200,000 people for a week – and have pre-positioned emergency supplies, including enough family health kits for 155,000 people.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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UN AND COMPUTER MAKER HP PARTNER TO BOOST IT SKILLS OF AFRICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE

UN AND COMPUTER MAKER HP PARTNER TO BOOST IT SKILLS OF AFRICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE New York, May 8 2008 3:00PM The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (<"http://www.unido.org/">UNIDO) and Hewlett-Packard (HP) have joined forces to help young unemployed people across Africa build their entrepreneurial and information technology (IT) skills, it was announced today.

The Graduate Entrepreneurship Training Through IT (GET-IT) initiative will initially be launched in six nations – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda – and eventually be expanded further to span the African continent.

The scheme seeks to train youth and graduates, who are between the ages of 16 and 25 and do not have jobs, acquire IT skills and run their own businesses.

GET-IT courses will focus on teaching practical solutions for businesses in finance, management, marketing and technology management.

"By providing IT technology, curricula and training for entrepreneurs, we aim to foster jobs and opportunities in Africa," said Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director-General.

HP started the programme last year in 18 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and its new partnership with the UN will allow it to extend its reach in Africa.

"It is essential that UNIDO assists developing countries in Africa in educating their young generation in information technology and creating achievable prospects," Mr. Yumkella noted.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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AFGHANISTAN, IRAN AND PAKISTAN AGREE AN ANTI-DRUGS PLAN BROKERED BY UN

AFGHANISTAN, IRAN AND PAKISTAN AGREE AN ANTI-DRUGS PLAN BROKERED BY UN New York, May 8 2008 1:00PM Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have agreed to step up cross-border controls to stop the flow of illegal drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<" http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2008-05-08.html">UNODC) announced today in Vienna.

The three countries, meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran, agreed to establish Border Liaison Offices, on each of their three borders, to plan joint operations against traffickers attempting to smuggle heroin out of Afghanistan. The countries also announced that they would step up the campaign to block the transport of precursor chemicals for heroin production in and around Afghanistan.

Another key focus was on how to prevent trade links and road transport from being used for the smuggling of narcotics. "We need to ensure that ways to facilitate trade are not exploited by smugglers of guns, chemicals and weapons," said Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of UNODC.

Today's meeting in Tehran was part of the Triangular Initiative brokered by UNODC.
Speakers at the meeting stressed the devastating impact of opium and heroin on their countries, and urged the international community, particularly European countries, to reduce demand for drugs and support the new plan.

With UNODC's assistance, Iran will establish a permanent secretariat for the Triangular Initiative and a regional centre for intelligence exchange.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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MARTIN LUTHER KING AN 'UNSURPASSED ADVOCATE' OF UN VALUES, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

MARTIN LUTHER KING AN 'UNSURPASSED ADVOCATE' OF UN VALUES, SAYS BAN KI-MOON New York, May 8 2008 12:00PM Viewing original papers written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta – the city he called home – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to the renowned United States civil rights leader, saying the values he lived and died for are shared by the United Nations.

"Dr. King remains an unsurpassed advocate of all the UN stands for: peace, economic and social justice, and human rights," Mr. Ban told an audience of dignitaries, students, faculty and members of the UN Association of the US in the exhibition hall of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, part of the Atlanta University Center.

The Secretary-General said he was especially inspired by the enduring bravery of Dr. King, who was slain by an assassin's bullet 40 years ago.

"I will leave here forever impressed by Dr. King's courage," said Mr. Ban following a private viewing of parts of the King collection entrusted to the Library.

"He could see the bridge between the terrible injustices in our world and the noble rightness that humanity can achieve. He spent his life building that bridge and marching across it, from despair to hope, from suffering to salvation, from war to peace and from hate to love," the Secretary-General told the audience, which included two of Dr. King's children, Martin Luther King III and Rev. Bernice King.

Mr. Ban said Dr. King's principled bravery resonates at the UN. "As the United Nations strives to tackle the problems raging our world and to realize the principles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we carry in our hearts Dr. King's unending courage and his unbending conviction."

While serving as Korea's Consul General in Washington, DC nearly three decades ago, Secretary-General Ban had travelled to Atlanta to speak about Dr. King. He told the audience at the Atlanta University Center today that his profound respect for Dr. King only deepened over the years.

"Today, my admiration grew even further, as I saw the papers lodged in this Library," said Mr. Ban. "Seeing the original of 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail,' with paragraphs that Dr. King wrote on scraps of paper, I could only imagine what intellectual courage and conviction went into the effort," he said, pointing out that the now-revered treatise had to be smuggled out from behind bars.

Mr. Ban also viewed documents showing the links between Dr. King and his long-time supporter Ralph Bunche, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs who, in 1950, became the first African-American man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. King was the second, receiving the honour 14 years later, in 1964.

"What I saw today helped me form a picture of their close relationship," said Mr. Ban, adding that he had been particularly moved by a letter from Ralph Bunche, on UN stationery, asking Dr. King and his wife to visit him on the way to the Nobel ceremony in Oslo.

During the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Mr. Bunche told supporters at the Montgomery Statehouse that the UN was with them. "In the UN, we have known from the beginning that secure foundations for peace in the world can be built only upon the principle and practice of equal rights and status for all peoples, respect and dignity for all."

Mr. Ban said those words "capture the conviction underlying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose 60th anniversary we celebrate this year."

Adrian Carver, Communications Manager for the Robert W. Woodruff Library, agreed that Dr. King's overall mission was focused on human rights. "Civil rights was part of human rights. He always talked about human beings, and their right to pursue the highest of heights," she told the UN News Service. "And it's even more obvious when you look at the foundings of some of the most famous King materials that that was always central among his thinking, his writing and his actions."

During his two-day official stay in Atlanta, part of an ongoing tour of major US cities, Mr. Ban is also scheduled to meet with Georgia's Governor, Sonny Perdue, visit the Centers for Disease Control, hold talks with former US President Jimmy Carter, as well as speak to staff and supporters of CIFAL, an Atlanta-based UN office that helps local and national officials strive to reach anti-poverty targets.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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GUNMEN IN CENTRAL SOMALIA KILL DRIVER OF UN FOOD CONVOY

GUNMEN IN CENTRAL SOMALIA KILL DRIVER OF UN FOOD CONVOY New York, May 8 2008 10:00AM The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2832">denounced the killing of one of its truck drivers in Somalia – the second incident of its kind this year – by militiamen who stopped the agency's food convoy at an illegal checkpoint in the central part of the strife-torn nation.

"We condemn this senseless killing and, once again, urge all parties to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian staff and cargo across the country," said WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens.

Yesterday's attack occurred after the convoy of 12 WFP-contracted trucks, loaded with food, was stopped at an illegal checkpoint, 30 kilometres north of Galkayo in Mudug region, by militiamen who demanded money. A gunman opened fire on the trucks, and shot one of the drivers who later died in hospital. The 275 metric tons of WFP food aboard the trucks was not looted.

This is the second WFP convoy driver to be killed this year in Somalia, where a deteriorating security situation has made the delivery of assistance to vulnerable people increasingly difficult. On 13 February, the leader of a convoy of WFP-contracted trucks was shot dead by a militiaman in southern Somalia.

WFP warned that nutrition indicators across Somalia are rising to "alarming" levels, with acute malnutrition among young children in some areas, including the Central Region, the Shabelles, Hiran and the southern Nugal region in Puntland, reaching 17 per cent, which is above the emergency threshold.

The humanitarian situation in the country – which has not had a functioning government since 1991 – has been getting worse in recent months due to rising insecurity, soaring food prices and a worsening drought. While WFP had been aiming to feed some 1.4 million people in Somalia, that number is rising as a result of increasing needs.

In addition, WFP this month entered into a partnership with the non-governmental organization, CARE International, to feed an additional 700,000 people in central Somalia between June and August.

"The central region has tipped into a major humanitarian crisis, and we are partnering with CARE to help deliver food to everyone who needs it," Mr. Goossens said. The region has been particularly hard hit by civil unrest, coupled with a recent increase in major security incidents.

Meanwhile, food riots erupted this week in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, due to soaring prices of items such as cereal, which have soared by up to 375 per cent in the last year and are now at historic highs.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS CRITICAL TO LIBERIA'S DEVELOPMENT - UN ENVOY

ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS CRITICAL TO LIBERIA'S DEVELOPMENT – UN ENVOY New York, May 7 2008 6:00PM The top United Nations official in Liberia has called for furthering the rights of women as a crucial element in advancing peace and development in the West African nation that is recovering from a decade-long civil war.

Addressing participants at the start of a five-day national women's conference in the capital, Monrovia, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Liberia, Ellen Margrethe Løj, yesterday highlighted the need to take the message of women's empowerment and the advancement of human rights to the community level.

"When discussing these issues, ensure that they are not only discussed with intellectual women in Monrovia; make sure that all women of Liberia are involved in these efforts," she told the gathering, which included UN and Government officials, diplomats, local women leaders, female traditional and religious leaders and members of civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Organized by the Liberian Government with support from the UN family and other partners, the conference is focusing on "Advancing Women's Human Rights in Peace-building, Recovery and Development Processes in Liberia."

It brings together around 300 women from across the country to assess the role of grassroots women, women's organizations and government in ensuring that issues such as security, sexual violence, education, health, agriculture and participation in local governance will be addressed.

Ms. Løj, referring to the current rise in food prices, urged Liberian women to increase food production to feed their families. "I think it is an urgent challenge for women in Liberia to see how to be more involved in the agricultural sector," she added.

Meanwhile, a nationwide anti-rape campaign, organized by the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) – which is headed by Ms. Løj – and the Government, has expanded to the country's second largest city, Buchanan.

The Special Representative commended the leadership being shown by government and county officials in confronting the serious problem of rape, which is currently the single most frequently committed serious crime in Liberia.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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AUSTRIA TO DONATE ?100,000 TO UN'S ANTI-SMALL ARMS CENTRE IN ASIA-PACIFIC

AUSTRIA TO DONATE €100,000 TO UN'S ANTI-SMALL ARMS CENTRE IN ASIA-PACIFIC New York, May 7 2008 6:00PM Austria will contribute €100,000 to a United Nations project to curb the illicit flows of small arms and light weapons in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the world body's Office for Disarmament Affairs.

The funds, pledged by Austria on 5 May, will go towards the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, which requires $2.2 million for its projects and to bolster its institutional capacity.

This Centre, which was established by the General Assembly in 1987, will relocate to Kathmandu, Nepal, this July and covers 43 countries.

It relies on voluntary contributions for its staffing needs, operations, activities and initiatives. Since the start of this year, it has received contributions from Member States, including Turkey, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan and Thailand.

To combat the illicit brokering of small arms and light weapons in Asia and the Pacific, the Centre seeks to hold three sub-regional workshops to boost the capacities of the region's countries to tackle the challenge by strengthening legislation and administrative procedures; improving national licensing control systems; and promoting information-sharing and judicial cooperation among States.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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SIERRA LEONE'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION 'HOPEFUL,' SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

SIERRA LEONE'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION 'HOPEFUL,' SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD New York, May 7 2008 5:00PM Sierra Leone's prospects of moving forward and boosting its socio-economic situation is "hopeful," a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council today.

"However, this will require the Government making tough economic and political decisions and implementing policies that promote transparency and accountability," Assistant Secretary-General Dmitry Titov of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) said. "It will require sacrifice and patience on the part of Sierra Leoneans as the country continues its journey towards full economic recovery."

Mr. Titov, who briefed the Council on the work of the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), said that the political and security situation in the West African nation is "generally calm," but pointed out that there have been several violent incidents involving supporters of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).

In July, the country will hold local council elections, which the official characterized as "another major step towards enhancing its democratic process."

But he warned that tensions between APC and SLPP supporters will rise in the run-up to the polls, and noted that UNIOSIL is working with many groups on the ground for a peaceful election.

The Assistant Secretary-General said that surging staple commodities and fuel prices have led to there being little in the way of progress in Sierra Leone's socio-economic condition, voicing concern that dissatisfaction over soaring prices could lead to unrest.

He also cautioned that gains made in rebuilding the country could be reversed if more employment opportunities are not generated for young people.

Meanwhile, the human rights situation has seen an improvement, given the bolstered respect for civil and political rights and the passing of legislation on women's and children's rights.

"However, efforts to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation are still very slow," Mr. Titov told the Council.

On the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) – established in December 2005 to help countries recovering from war avoid a relapse into violence and chaos – he observed that the adoption of a PBC Framework for Sierra Leone "has injected fresh impetus into the peace consolidation process."

The chair of the PBC's Sierra Leone "configuration" said in his remarks to the Council that "impressive" steps have been taken in the areas of justice and security sector reform; anti-corruption; the development of the energy sector; and preparation for the upcoming elections.

But "there are also a number of challenges which must be addressed in the next few months," said Dutch Ambassador Frank Majoor, including the need to appoint a new head of UNIOSIL and to create a means to informally coordinate on PBC-related issues.

In his most recent report on the UN mission, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote that UNIOSIL will withdraw in September and recommended that it be replaced by a UN integrated peacebuilding office, to be known as UNIPSIL, which "holistically addresses the political, economic and peacebuilding challenges facing the country."

At today's Council meeting, Mr. Majoor stated that "the follow-on mission must also have adequate operational capacity and logistical support to effectively carry out its mandate," urging that a new Executive Representative of the Secretary-General to head UNIOSIL – a position that has been vacant since December 2007 – be appointed as soon as possible.

UNIOSIL was set up in 2006 to help the Government consolidate the country's hard-won peace following a brutal, 11-year conflict, and to tackle a wide range of challenges related to good governance, security, human rights and development.

In a related development, representatives of Sierra Leone's Government and civil society are taking part in a UN-backed meeting which started yesterday on the country's reporting obligations to global human rights treaty monitoring bodies.

Participants at the event – sponsored by the Foreign Ministry, UNIOSIL, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone – conferred on adopting a national strategy to jump-start the reporting process by the Government.

In addition, a two-day training scheme led by UNIOSIL's Human Rights and Rule of Law Section began today for some 50 people to improve their understanding of the issues and the reporting process.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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ATTACKS ON NORTH DARFUR'S CIVILIANS SPARK CONDEMNATION FROM BAN KI-MOON

ATTACKS ON NORTH DARFUR'S CIVILIANS SPARK CONDEMNATION FROM BAN KI-MOON New York, May 7 2008 4:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly deplored the recent bombings of villages in North Darfur that have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, and called on all parties to the conflict in the strife-torn Sudanese region to cease hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians.

"In particular, the bombing of a school, water installations and a market in the villages of Um Sidir, Ein Bassar and Shegeg Karo are entirely unacceptable," Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

The joint UN-African Union (AU) Mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, has assisted in the evacuation of casualties following last week's attacks, which left three dead and at least eight injured.

The Mission said over the weekend that initial reports suggest that the area, which is controlled by the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), "has witnessed repeated aerial attacks and possible fighting between government and rebel forces."

A UNAMID fact-finding mission is currently conducting an investigation on the ground, while the peacekeeping forces continue to monitor the situation, the Mission added.

Mr. Ban also voiced concern at increasing acts of banditry "which complicate humanitarian operations and impede UNAMID's ability to carry out its mandate."

He once again called on all parties to the Darfur conflict – which have claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced nearly 2.5 million others since 2003 – to urgently cease hostilities, ensure the protection of civilians and to work with UNAMID to promote security.

They were also urged to commit to the political process being led by the Special Envoys of the UN and AU, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim, to broker a peace settlement to the conflict.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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UN WRAPS UP ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE AFTER NEPAL POLLS

UN WRAPS UP ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE AFTER NEPAL POLLS New York, May 7 2008 4:00PM The United Nations Electoral Assistance Office in Nepal is wrapping up after providing technical aid and advice to the country's Election Commission for last month's Constituent Assembly polls.

"The role of the Electoral Assistance Office has ended," Fida Nasrallah, Chief Electoral Advisor with the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), said today. She will deliver a final report in June based on the written reports of electoral advisors.

"I would describe the experience overall as having been extremely successful," she said, adding that it was "very challenging, demanding a lot of patience and diplomacy."

All 25 political parties winning seats in the 10 April polls have now submitted their lists of candidates to the Election Commission, with the percentage of women candidates at just below one third of the elected Constituent Assembly, up from 6 per cent in the previous election.

Once the Commission announces the final results of the election, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly must take place within 21 days, UMNIN said. The Assembly will then be tasked with drawing up a new constitution for the country, which has emerged from a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives before the Government and Maoist rebels signed a peace accord in 2006.

On election day, UN electoral advisors visited polling centres to monitor the process, and since then have helped analyze the election results. They have also trained political parties in selecting candidates to meet quota requirements, as well as setting up media monitoring for non-electoral periods.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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USING ART TO INSPIRE ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT - NEW UN CAMPAIGN

USING ART TO INSPIRE ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT – NEW UN CAMPAIGN New York, May 7 2008 4:00PM Art can be a catalyst for environmental action – that's the message today from a United Nations seminar and exhibit which are bringing together artists from around the world.

Mia Hanak, Founding Executive Director of the Natural World Museum, which is co-sponsoring the events in New York, said that, "art is a vehicle for environmental action and social change. Our collective goal is to ignite people's passion for being a part of the global solution and together inspiring people to take bold actions in finding new ways to embrace sustainable lifestyles."

The seminar and art exhibition are also sponsored by the UN's Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org">UNEP) and Department of Information (<" http://www.undpi.am/">DPI), under the title, "art changing attitudes toward the environment."

Seven artists from different regions of the world are exhibiting photographs focusing on the environment at UN Headquarters in New York until the end of May.

Indian-born photographer Subhankar Banerjee has photographed the Arctic region over the past eight years and said today that the area suffered from negative perceptions as a "hostile wasteland" and that its indigenous peoples had also suffered from intolerance. "I hope that my work would help unlearn many of these intolerances against a whole part of our planet and our indigenous friends who call this home," he said.

The events are part of the "<" http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/tolerance/seminar.html#">Unlearning Intolerance Seminar Series" which was initiated by the UN in 2004. Eric Falt, Director of Outreach with DPI, said that the aim was to "examine intolerance, as well as to explore ways to promote respect and understanding among peoples."

"In previous years," he said, "the series has focused on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, genocide and the role of the media in promoting tolerance."

Ms. Hanak said, "We are sending out a call to action through the arts to break down our barriers and activate environmental and social transformation. We can each do our part in turning the tide in public awareness - and just remember one person can make a difference and together we can create change."
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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ZIMBABWE'S ELECTORAL PROCESS MUST BE PEACEFUL AND TRANSPARENT - BAN KI-MOON

ZIMBABWE'S ELECTORAL PROCESS MUST BE PEACEFUL AND TRANSPARENT – BAN KI-MOON New York, May 7 2008 3:00PM Voicing concern over reports of politically-motivated violence and intimidation against the backdrop of Zimbabwe's ongoing stalemate, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for the next phases of the Southern African nation's elections to be free and fair.

"The Secretary-General is closely following the evolving situation in Zimbabwe, and has remained in contact with leaders in the region," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11553.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson.

"He reiterates his strong belief that future stages of the electoral process must be conducted in a peaceful, credible and transparent manner in the presence of international observers."

Last week, the top UN political official said the world body stands ready to support regional diplomatic efforts to end Zimbabwe's political crisis, which began after the March presidential elections in which the incumbent Robert Mugabe was challenged by Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe said that he was greatly concerned over violence in Zimbabwe, particularly from the Government's side, though he added that there had been reports of clashes from both sides.

Also last week, a group of UN independent human rights experts spoke out against the violence, noting that intimidation, violence and torture were being used to take retribution against MDC supporters.

In a statement, the six rapporteurs said that there is reliable evidence that security forces, paramilitary groups and gangs have attacked the homes of MDC supporters, and of workers with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, in areas where the MDC received more votes than the ruling ZANU-PF party. They reported that at least 351 people have been hospitalized, nearly 300 homes have been destroyed through politically motivated arson, 15 women have been abducted, and several people have been murdered.

As a result of the violence, which has been taking place mainly in rural areas, townships and farms, hundreds of families and individuals, mainly women and children, have been displaced internally or are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, the statement reported.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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UN CALLS ON MYANMAR TO FACILITATE AID DELIVERY TO CYCLONE VICTIMS

UN CALLS ON MYANMAR TO FACILITATE AID DELIVERY TO CYCLONE VICTIMS New York, May 7 2008 3:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations humanitarian official today urged Myanmar authorities to facilitate the delivery of aid in the wake of the deadly cyclone that wreaked death and destruction in the country several days ago.

The Government in Myanmar has confirmed that over 22,000 people have died, and more than 41,000 people are missing, following Cyclone Nargis which struck the South-East Asian nation from 2 to 3 May. Initial estimates suggest that up to 1 million people are currently homeless, and many more require assistance.

"The Secretary-General believes that this is a critical moment for the people of Myanmar, and emphasizes the importance of providing as much assistance as possible in the vital first few days following the cyclone's impact," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11552.doc.htm">statement issued today by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

He welcomed today's news that some UN aid officials will be allowed into Myanmar tomorrow, which will assist assessment and prioritization efforts.

"Given the magnitude of this disaster, the Secretary-General urges the Government of Myanmar to respond to the outpouring of international support and solidarity by facilitating the arrival of aid workers, and the clearance of relief supplies in every way possible," the statement added. "This can significantly aid the Government in responding to this tragedy."

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes echoed Mr. Ban's call, stressing that "any delays are going to be potentially critical" in the face of such a disaster.

Members of a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/FieldCoordinationSupportSection/UNDACSystem/tabid/1414/Default.aspx">UNDAC) team will be flying to Myanmar tomorrow to coordinate relief efforts together with the national authorities.

Mr. Holmes, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated that while assistance has started to arrive, the effort is clearly not adequate given the enormity of the situation. "We are faced here with a major catastrophe," he told journalists at UN Headquarters.

The UN has been "intensely" discussing access for aid workers, visas and the easing of custom regulations with the Government since the tragedy struck. "The cooperation is reasonable and I think heading in the right direction," Mr. Holmes noted.

The Under-Secretary-General added that the UN will allocate at least $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1109">CERF) for the aid effort. In addition, over two dozen countries have indicated their willingness to contribute to relief efforts, in the amount of $30 million. The UN is working with the Government to prepare a flash appeal to donors to be launched on Friday.

Cyclone Nargis, which made landfall in the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) delta region and then moved across the country's largest city, Yangon, caused widespread destruction, including destroying homes, tearing down trees and power lines and damaging communications.

Myanmar authorities have declared five regions – Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, Mon and Kayin – disaster areas. The combined total population of the disaster areas is around 24 million.

Mr. Holmes said the process of aid beginning to arrive has started. Humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are distributing food, water purification tables, plastic sheeting and health kits – just some of the most urgent needs.

The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2831">WFP) today sent four aircraft loaded with critically needed food aid, including 45 metric tons of high energy biscuits, and other relief items.

"Time is of the essence and we are already reaching storm victims with food. We are mobilising all possible resources to save lives given the massive disruption in food, water, and shelter caused by this storm," said WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran, speaking from Washington D.C.

The WFP-chartered aircraft are expected to arrive at Yangon airport early Thursday morning – the first UN flights to arrive in the city.
2008-05-07 00:00:00.000

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