BAN, FRENCH LEADER CALL FOR URGENT ACTION ON FINANCIAL CRISIS

BAN, FRENCH LEADER CALL FOR URGENT ACTION ON FINANCIAL CRISIS
New York, Oct 18 2008 4:10PM
Meeting today in Canada, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and French President Nicolas Sarkozy underscored the need for swift and decisive measures to be taken on the current financial crisis.

They agreed in talks on the sidelines of the 12th Francophonie Summit in Québec City that a global initiative should be undertaken urgently to address the impact of the turmoil on all nations, especially the world's poorest people.

Following their meeting, Mr. Ban sent the French leader a letter in which he voiced support for Mr. Sarkozy's proposal, put forth in his capacity as European Union (EU) President, to convene an expanded, emergency meeting of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations to tackle the problem.

The Secretary-General also expressed his appreciation to Mr. Sarkozy for extending an invitation to the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take part in
the event.

"Such a format will allow us to more effectively act upon this crisis which requires a global solution through cohesive international partnership," he wrote in his letter.

The summit should take place in early December at the latest, Mr. Ban said, offering up as a venue the Secretariat of the United Nations, a symbol of multilateralism, to lend universal legitimacy to the event.

He emphasized his conviction -- shared with Mr. Sarkozy -- that the international community must act in concert to guarantee that the current economic crisis does not impede progress in combating climate change, addressing the food crisis and reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.

In an address to the heads of French-speaking nations at the Francophonie Summit last night, the Secretary-General said that global partnership is the only option to meet the scale and complexity of interrelated threats, including terrorism and extreme povert
y..

"The partnership is the way forward," he said. "This is the model that we must follow to meet the other challenges. This is the model that we must follow to find together a solution to the financial crisis."

Oct 18 2008 4:10PM
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ETHIOPIA FACES DETERIORATING FOOD SECURITY, UN WARNS

ETHIOPIA FACES DETERIORATING FOOD SECURITY, UN WARNS
New York, Oct 17 2008 7:10PM
Drought-hit Ethiopians are facing a worsening food situation as the cost of maize soars nearly three-fold in some areas of the Horn of Africa country compared to last year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cautioned today.

Migration by people from rural to urban areas in search of food is increasing, it noted, and aid agencies have identified critical malnutrition. A rapid assessment team said it found grave water and pasture shortages in some areas.

Due to reduced rations resulting from breaks in the pipeline have led to reduced rations, whose distribution began in July and will continue until December, <"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA said that it anticipates increased malnutrition and a rise in child labour and begging.

The Office also warned that without adequate October-December rains, food insecurity will continue will into next year.

Earlier this week, OCHA appealed for more than $265 million to fund relief operations in Ethiopia for the next three months to meet the widening scale of the crisis, with some 6.4 million people now estimated to need urgent assistance.

It reported that a recent joint assessment by Ethiopian authorities and the international humanitarian community found that an extra 1.8 million people have been hit hard by the crisis since the last assessment in June.

The biggest increase has been in the country's south-east, known as the Somali region, where the number of people requiring emergency food aid has almost doubled to 1.9 million since June.
Oct 17 2008 7:10PM
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GLOBAL COOPERATION MORE VITAL THAN EVER, BAN TELLS FRENCH-SPEAKING WORLD

GLOBAL COOPERATION MORE VITAL THAN EVER, BAN TELLS FRENCH-SPEAKING WORLD
New York, Oct 17 2008 7:10PM
The spirit of international partnership has never been more important as the world faces grave interrelated threats such as the financial crisis, climate change, terrorism and extreme poverty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the heads of French-speaking-countries today.

In an address to the 12th Francophonie Summit, held in Québec City, Mr. Ban said cooperation was the only option given the scale and complexity of the global challenges.

"The partnership is the way forward," he said. "This is the model that we must follow to meet the other challenges. This is the model that we must follow to find together a solution to the financial crisis."

Mr. Ban welcomed the recent initiatives and measures of national leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to tackle the causes and effects of the financial crisis.

"I am ready to support and help them. As we all know, the United Nations is a unique forum of its kind where both developing countries and developed countries can be understood."

The Secretary-General noted that, at the annual opening session of the General Assembly last month, world leaders pledged some $16 billion to try to achieve the ambitious programme of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

They also proposed new ideas and strategies to boost development and eradicate poverty, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the region that is struggling the most to reach the MDGs.

"I count on you to help me preserve these gains in this difficult period, in the name of human solidarity and responsibility that we have to protect the less well-off."

Mr. Ban said it was also important that the financial crisis not divert the attention of world leaders and policymakers from responding to the threats posed by global warming, particularly during global talks in Poznan, Poland, later this year and then in Copenhagen, Denmark, next year.
Oct 17 2008 7:10PM
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UN STANDS UP WITH MILLIONS ACROSS THE WORLD TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST POVERTY

UN STANDS UP WITH MILLIONS ACROSS THE WORLD TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
New York, Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
There is no time to waste in the fight against poverty, the Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro <"http://www.un.org/apps/dsg/dsgstats.asp?nid=134">warned as she led a gathering at the United Nations to symbolically stand up against poverty today, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

"We join millions around the world today standing up against hunger and malnutrition; Standing up against deaths from preventable diseases; Standing up against poor living conditions," Ms. Migiro told participants.

The event at UN Headquarters is part of the global "Stand Up and Take Action against Poverty" campaign, involving some 67 million people – or about 1 per cent of the world's population – in over 2,000 events across more than 100 countries this weekend.

The campaign is aimed at mobilizing support to fight against poverty and call on world leaders to deliver their commitments to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the internationally agreed targets to halve extreme poverty and address other social ills by 2015.

"There are still 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty. More than 30,000 people die of malnutrition, avoidable diseases and hunger every day. There is no time to waste if we are to achieve the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs by the target year of 2015," Ms. Migiro told UN staff, senior officials, diplomats, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and students pledging their support.

"We are standing because everyday 50,000 people die needlessly as a result of extreme poverty, and the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider," participants read out as part of their pledge taken on the front lawn of the Secretariat building.

President of the General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto, said in his <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/63/statements/standupapoverty171008.shtml">address to the event that "the persistence of poverty represents a flagrant violation of the human rights of most of the world's people."

"This poverty is inexcusable, since it is a man-made problem caused by the dominant culture's perverse logic of selfishness and is within our power to eradicate," Mr. d'Escoto added.

"I call on all parties not to reduce aid in these trying times; instead, we should triple it. Let us not wait until the poor and excluded take to the streets to demand it."

Cast members of the Broadway musical <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i> also performed at the ceremony, which marked the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Meanwhile more than 10,000 people from all parts of Thai society took part in an event in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, where the UN and Thai Government pledged their commitment to stamping out poverty and inequality.

The event started with a walk, symbolizing unity behind the goal of eliminating poverty, and ended with Government officials signing a promise committing them to on behalf of the approximately 5.4 million Thais living below the national poverty line.

The UN Millennium Campaign, responsible for initiating the annual Stand Up events, says that luminaries such as Bono, Archbishop Tutu and Martin Luther King III will join the millions demanding governments keep promises made at the Millennium summit in 2000 to achieve the MDGs.

"From Friday to Sunday, in rich and poor countries, at concerts and sporting events, in universities and in houses of worship, millions of people will show that they will not remain seated in the face of poverty and broken promises to end it," said Salil Shetty, Director of the UN Millennium Campaign.

"This mass mobilization will demonstrate to world leaders that citizens do not consider the global financial crisis to be an excuse for breaking promises, and they must commit to concrete plans of action now to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the MDGs by 2015."
Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
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UN REPORT WARNS OF THREATS AHEAD AS IVORIANS PREPARE TO CONDUCT POLLS

UN REPORT WARNS OF THREATS AHEAD AS IVORIANS PREPARE TO CONDUCT POLLS
New York, Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
Côte d'Ivoire still faces formidable obstacles before it can achieve true national reconciliation and begin the path to recovery, a United Nations report says today just weeks before the West African country is slated to conduct much-delayed presidential elections.

The dismantling and disarming of militia groups have stalled in some areas, not enough weapons of ex-combatants in the recent civil conflict have been collected and safely stored, and more progress is needed to redeploy State authority in the formerly rebel-held north, according to the latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/645">report of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the UN peacekeeping mission to the country (known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI).

That lack of progress "has prevented the full reunification of the country and the complete restoration of State authority throughout the territory of Côte d'Ivoire following the lifting of the zone of confidence," the report states, referring to the zone separating the north from the Government-controlled south after the end of fighting.

Mr. Ban urges the Government and the rebel Forces Nouvelles, which signed a peace accord in Ouagadougou early last year, to persevere in resolving the outstanding issues preventing full reunification, such as the arrangements for reunifying the armed and security forces and the establishment of an effective reintegration scheme for ex-combatants.

He warns that the presidential polls scheduled for 30 November "could become a source of instability… if not managed properly and transparently," especially in the often delicate period immediately following elections.

"I would like to encourage the Ivorian leaders to maintain a commitment to the spirit of mutual accommodation and reconciliation."

However, he stresses that Côte d'Ivoire has made important steps since the Ouagadougou Agreement towards sustained peace and stability, including the launch last month of the voter registration process.

Identification of Ivorians, and thus determining their eligibility for voting, has been one of the key points of contention in the country in recent years. Mobile courts were set up to travel around the country and identify eligible voters.

"I am particularly pleased about the success of the mobile courts operations and the consensus reached by the parties to resolve arising issues, including the need for supplementary operations of the courts in areas that were previously not adequately covered," Mr. Ban writes.

"It is now imperative to carry forward the simultaneous issuance of identity cards and voter registration in an equally credible and transparent manner," he says, adding that other issues, such as the possibility of adjusting the election timetable, should be dealt with in a spirit of consensus.
Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
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UN FOOD CONVEY SUCCESSFULLY REACHES CONFLICT ZONE IN SRI LANKA

UN FOOD CONVEY SUCCESSFULLY REACHES CONFLICT ZONE IN SRI LANKA
New York, Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
A major United Nations food convoy arrived today in northern Sri Lanka to assist over 200,000 displaced persons after being forced to turn back yesterday due to fresh fighting in the area between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The 50-truck World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) fleet re-entered the region known as the Vanni following the UN receiving renewed assurances this morning from both parties to the conflict that the convoy would be able to proceed safely.

Carrying 750 tons of food for the estimated 230,000 civilians displaced behind the lines of confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, this is the second convoy in as many weeks and part of an ongoing UN effort to supply humanitarian aid to civilians moving to avoid fighting.

Intensified clashes between the military and LTTE members have in recent weeks forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes and sparked warnings from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials about the humanitarian impact on the people of Sri Lanka.

In the northern town of Anuradhapura earlier this month at least 27 people were killed and many more wounded in a suicide bomb attack on the office of one of Sri Lanka's opposition parties.

The UN today reiterated its full commitment to assisting the Sri Lankan Government with efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and those trapped in the conflict zones.
Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
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SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES ROLE OF RELIGIONS IN BUILDING PEACE

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES ROLE OF RELIGIONS IN BUILDING PEACE
New York, Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
All of the world's great religions have a critical role to play in building and cementing global peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told a gathering of Asian religious figures today.

In a video <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11869.doc.htm">message sent to the General Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, held at Manila, Mr. Ban called on the religions to work together with the UN to build peace.

"Asia is the cradle of great religions that share noble values pursued by all humanity – values such as mercy, justice and peace," he said. "And yet mankind has created so many conflicts in the name of religion. That is why organizations like yours are so important."

Mr. Ban noted that the UN had created the Alliance of Civilizations, which brings together religious leaders, governments, philanthropists, corporations, the media, academia and activists, for the same reasons.

"By working with a broad range of partners, in the UN and beyond the UN, the Alliance is addressing the conditions that allow extremism to fester, and helping to create the foundations for peace."
Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
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BAN UNVEILS SENIOR PEACEKEEPING APPOINTMENTS TO LIBERIA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN

BAN UNVEILS SENIOR PEACEKEEPING APPOINTMENTS TO LIBERIA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN
New York, Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sga1160.doc.htm">announced plans today to reassign two key military posts involving United Nations peacekeeping operations in Liberia and in India and Pakistan.

Mr. Ban has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Lieutenant General A.T.M. Zahirul Alam of Bangladesh as Force Commander for the UN Mission in Liberia (<"http://unmil.org/">UNMIL).

Lt.-Gen. Alam has had an extensive career with the Bangladesh Army, which he joined in 1975, and his long experience includes service with the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unikom/">UNIKOM), where he commanded a mechanized infantry battalion between November 1994 and January 1996.

He will replace Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor of Nigeria, who is to take over as Military Adviser for the UN's global peacekeeping operations, Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

The Secretary-General also informed the Council of his plan to <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sga1161.doc.htm">appoint Major General Kim Moon Hwa of Korea as Chief Military Observer in the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

Maj.-Gen. Kim served as Deputy Chief Military Observer for the <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmogip/">UNMOGIP operation from 1995 to 1997 as part of his extensive military career since joining the Korean Army in 1976.

He will succeed Major General Dragutin Repinc of Croatia, who ended his two-year mandate to the position earlier this year.
Oct 17 2008 6:10PM
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EUROPEAN UNION’S CLIMATE ACTIONS COULD BE ECONOMIC BOON, BAN SAYS

EUROPEAN UNION'S CLIMATE ACTIONS COULD BE ECONOMIC BOON, BAN SAYS
New York, Oct 17 2008 5:10PM
Proposed European Union (EU) proposals on tackling climate change could also be a boon for the economy, generating millions of new jobs at a time when the world is suffering from the financial crisis, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11868.doc.htm">statement, Mr. Ban voiced his deep concern over the effects of the financial crisis on the developing world, especially the world's poorest, and called for unrelenting efforts to address global warming.

"One crisis must not become an obstacle to action on another," he said.

The Secretary-General urged the EU to continue providing leadership on climate changes, noting recent decisions taken at its summit in Brussels, Belgium, and expressed hope that it will conclude its package that could spur "green" growth and create many new jobs.

He also encouraged industrialized countries to step up their financing of clean technology and assistance to developing nations to adapt to climate change.

"The climate meeting in Poznan, Poland, offers a chance to send precisely the right signal," the statement said, referring to the next set of talks scheduled for December. "I very much hope that world leaders will seize the opportunity."

Nations will converge in Copenhagen, Denmark, later next year to wrap up negotiations on greenhouse gas emissions and conclude a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, whose first commitment period ends in 2012.
Oct 17 2008 5:10PM
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BAN LAUDS AWARD-WINNING CHARITY FOR CARRYING ON LEGACY OF LATE TOM LANTOS

BAN LAUDS AWARD-WINNING CHARITY FOR CARRYING ON LEGACY OF LATE TOM LANTOS
New York, Oct 17 2008 5:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged to do his part to advance the ideals espoused by long-time United Nations supporter Tom Lantos, as he congratulated the charity set up in the late United States congressman's name for being honoured for the work it does in carrying forward his legacy.

Mr. Lantos, Chairman of the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, was a personal friend of the Secretary-General. He passed away in February of this year.

"I was deeply saddened when I learned of his untimely passing. But I was comforted by the conviction that his powerful voice – a voice of wisdom and compassion – would continue to resonate beyond his lifetime," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11867.doc.htm">said last night at an event in New York at which the Tom Lantos Foundation was presented with the Global Humanitarian Award by the aid organization Airline Ambassadors.

"The fact that the Lantos Foundation is being honoured tonight is proof that his legacy is still very much alive, challenging all of us to carry forward the cause of tolerance, justice and peace that he passionately served throughout his life," Mr. Ban told the audience, which included Mr. Lantos' wife, Annette.

The Secretary-General added that as a Holocaust survivor, Mr. Lantos had endured one of the worst atrocities of the Second World War. However, "far from being defeated by this searing experience, he resolved all the more strongly to make the world a better place.

"Congressman Lantos was all too aware of the worst in man, but he inspired us to bring out the best," said Mr. Ban.
Oct 17 2008 5:10PM
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ONGOING VIOLENCE UPROOTS ANOTHER 5,500 PEOPLE FROM SOMALI CAPITAL, SAYS UN

ONGOING VIOLENCE UPROOTS ANOTHER 5,500 PEOPLE FROM SOMALI CAPITAL, SAYS UN
New York, Oct 17 2008 4:10PM
An additional 5,500 people have been displaced this week from the capital of strife-torn Somalia, the United Nations reported today, bringing the total number of those uprooted by fighting between Government forces and Islamic insurgents since 21 September to over 61,000.

The clashes that erupted last month in Mogadishu have been some of the worst violence to hit the city in over a year and a half, and began just weeks after the signing of a UN-brokered peace deal between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the rebel Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) aimed at ending the fighting.

The violence has reportedly killed 80 civilians and wounded hundreds more. It has also caused thousands to flee their homes, brining the total number of people uprooted so far this year in Mogadishu to 160,000, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR).

Aid agencies have been stepping up their efforts since the latest surge in fighting to assist those affected in the Horn of Africa nation, which has not had a functioning government since 1991 and is trying to cope with an already dire humanitarian situation due to a combination of conflict and drought.

Some 3.2 million people in Somalia, or around 43 per cent of the population, are in urgent need of food and other humanitarian assistance.

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and its partners are continuing to provide safe drinking water to over 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to the latest update provided by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA).

They have also now provided emergency school tents and foundations for 20 classrooms enabling access to education for another 1,000 children, along the corridor between Mogadishu and the town of Afgooye, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 15,000.

In addition, some 370 teachers from Gedo, Bay and Bakool regions were trained this week in management, educational psychology, emergency education, nutrition and HIV/AIDS by UNICEF. The training is expected benefit around 70,000 children through improved education service delivery.

Also in the Bakool region, the World Food Programme (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">WFP) plans to carry out direct distribution to beneficiaries of supplementary feeding, mother and child health centres and social support programmes. Malnutrition rates in the region stand at 25.5 per cent, one of the highest in Somalia.
Oct 17 2008 4:10PM
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MIGIRO DEPARTS FOR ETHIOPIA FOR DEVELOPMENT TALKS

MIGIRO DEPARTS FOR ETHIOPIA FOR DEVELOPMENT TALKS
New York, Oct 17 2008 3:10PM
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will visit Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, this weekend to attend a development meeting and to hold talks with the Horn of Africa nation's top officials.

She will chair a meeting of UN agencies working to support the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

That gathering which will focus on the theme "Delivering as one in support of Africa's development at the regional and subregional levels."

While in the Ethiopian city, Ms Migiro is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin.
Oct 17 2008 3:10PM
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BAN URGES ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS TO FORGE AHEAD TOWARDS A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT

BAN URGES ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS TO FORGE AHEAD TOWARDS A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT
New York, Oct 17 2008 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on both Israel and the Palestinians to push ahead with efforts towards a comprehensive settlement to their long-running conflict, in line with the peace process launched last year in the United States city of Annapolis.

At their meeting in November 2007, leaders of the two sides agreed to launch immediately good-faith negotiations to try to conclude a peace treaty by the end of 2008 that resolves all outstanding issues.

"I call upon the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to undertake every effort to achieve the goal of the Annapolis process," Mr. Ban <"http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N08/514/55/PDF/N0851455.pdf?OpenElement">writes in his annual report on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, which was released today.

"Time is now running short until we reach the benchmark of the Annapolis process, and there reportedly remain significant gaps.

"Should the parties not be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year, it will be essential that the process not be disrupted and instead continues, with the aim of leading to the long overdue peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine as early as possible," states the Secretary-General.

He notes that while the launch of the Annapolis process injected "new hope" into efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, the period covered by the report (September 2007 through August 2008) saw a worsening of the situation on the ground in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Violence – between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as among Palestinians – claimed the lives of 35 Israelis, including four children, and 600 Palestinians, including 87 children, during the reporting period.

"Much more needs to be done to build the necessary foundations for a successful political process and for the eventual and sustainable implementation of any agreement reached," he stresses.

This includes completing stopping Israeli settlement activity and lifting restrictions on movement and access. In addition, the Palestinian Authority needs to make further progress to impose law and order.

Mr. Ban highlights in particular the situation in Gaza, which was characterized by prolonged humanitarian crisis. The Gaza crossings remained largely closed, except for imports to meet minimal humanitarian needs.

"The violence, as well as the humanitarian distress the civilian population of the Gaza Strip endured as a result of Israel's closure policy, convinced me that a new and more constructive strategy on Gaza was required," he writes.

Mr. Ban emphasized that the UN will remain engaged at the political level, including through the efforts of the Middle East Quartet, which brings together the UN, European Union, Russian Federation and the United States.

At its most recent meeting in New York – which was not covered by the current report – the Quartet reaffirmed its support for the bilateral and comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and commended the parties for their serious and continuous efforts.

The grouping, which backs the so-called Road Map plan foreseeing a two-State solution with Israel and the Palestinians living side by side in peace, called on all Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence and recognition of Israel.

Among other things, it also called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
Oct 17 2008 3:10PM
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IRAQIS LEADING THE WAY IN GROWING NUMBERS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS, SAYS UN AGENCY

IRAQIS LEADING THE WAY IN GROWING NUMBERS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Oct 17 2008 2:10PM
The number of people seeking asylum around the world is on the rise with Iraqis being by far the top nationality in search of safety, according to a report published by the United Nations refugee agency today.

Some 165,000 applications were submitted to the 44 industrialized countries included in the report in the first six months of this year, and Iraqis made up 12 per cent of all asylum claims lodged with 19,500 applications and some 20 per cent of those petitioning Sweden.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) <"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=48f861532">report showed that the number of claims made by Iraqis was higher than the combined number of asylum claims submitted by Russia (9,400) and China (8,700), the second and third highest nationalities seeking asylum.

While the top three countries of origin for asylum-seekers saw either a downward or stable trend, the number of Somali claims lodged rose significantly, reflecting a deteriorating situation in the conflict-wracked Horn of Africa country. More than 7,400 Somalis were registered between January and June this year, compared to 5,000 for the same period last year.

Pakistan and Afghanistan also had large numbers of citizens seek asylum in the first half of 2008, with 6,300 claims each. For Afghanistan this represents a 22 per cent increase on the corresponding period for last year and a 42 per cent rise on 2006.

Although the total number of Iraqi asylum-seekers dropped by 18 per cent from the previous six months and 10 per cent from the first half of 2007, the overall upward trend of asylum claims continues. Data showed an increase of 9 per cent in 2007 compared to 2006 and 3 per cent from the first half of 2007.

According to the asylum trends report significant increases were registered by applicants from Mali, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Assuming that current patterns remain unchanged, UNHCR say the number of asylum claims lodged during the whole of this year could reach 360,000, or 10 percent more than 2007.

The report also noted that an estimated 25,400 people submitted asylum claims to the United States, the largest recipient of new claims, representing 15 per cent of all applications lodged in the first six months of 2008. Canada ranked second as a country of destination with 16,800 applications, or around 10 per cent of all asylum claims lodged.
Oct 17 2008 2:10PM
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UNESCO DEPLORES MURDER OF ANOTHER THAI JOURNALIST

UNESCO DEPLORES MURDER OF ANOTHER THAI JOURNALIST
New York, Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
The United Nations agency tasked with protecting press freedom today condemned the recent murder of a local newspaper editor in southern Thailand, the second journalist to be killed in the South-East Asian country in less than a month and the fourth this year.

Wallop Bounsampop, the editor of Den Siam, was shot in the head on 5 October by two men at a restaurant in his home village in Chonburi province, south of the capital, Bangkok.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), issued a statement warning about the recent spike in attacks against journalists operating in Thailand.

"This murder, like all attacks on media workers, undermines the basic human right of freedom of expression," he <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43710&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">said. "I trust that the authorities will do all they can to bring the culprits of this reprehensible crime to justice."

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Reporters with Borders said the killing of Mr. Bounsampop could be linked to his articles. The 52-year-old's death comes just weeks after Jaruek Rangchareon, a reporter for Matichon in central Thailand, was shot dead on 27 September.
Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
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UNICEF BOOSTS FUNDING TO HELP ENSURE PROPER NUTRITION FOR KYRGYZ CHILDREN

UNICEF BOOSTS FUNDING TO HELP ENSURE PROPER NUTRITION FOR KYRGYZ CHILDREN
New York, Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will provide $270,000 in additional funds to help develop a national nutrition strategy in Kyrgyzstan, where more than half of babies and infants are anaemic and many young children suffer from stunted growth as a result of nutrient deficiencies.

"Giving a child a solid nutritional start in life is critical to physical, mental and social development," <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45973.html">stressed<a/> UNICEF chief Ann Veneman during her visit to the Central Asian nation, the first-ever by an Executive Director of the agency.

While in the capital, Bishkek, Ms. Veneman also visited the Rehabilitation Centre for Street Children, which provides shelter for some 70 children who have been exposed to violence, exploitation or abuse.

"Many of the children at the Centre are from homes where domestic violence was a daily event, or where alcoholism and social and economic problems left families unable to cope or to care properly for their children," she said. "These children have been robbed of their childhood by the people who are meant to love them the most."

The Executive Director held talks with Prime Minister Igor Chudinov on a range of issues, including the implementation of legislation to protect the country's children, as well as the recent establishment of the new government department to coordinate children's issues.

More than half of the population in Kyrgyzstan – the second poorest country in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – lives in poverty and more than one quarter in extreme poverty, affecting more than 60 per cent of children under the age of 14.

Statistics show that at least 50 per cent of Kyrgyz babies aged between six and 24 months are anaemic and nearly 14 per cent of children under five suffer from stunted growth.

UNICEF has been supporting activities in the country since 1994 in areas such as health and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, as well as the rights of marginalized children, children in poverty and children facing discrimination.
Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
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POLITICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO BOOST ASIA-PACIFIC’S ENERGY SECURITY – UN

POLITICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO BOOST ASIA-PACIFIC'S ENERGY SECURITY – UN
New York, Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
Increased political will is needed across the Asia-Pacific so that the region can shift from energy insecurity to a more sustainable form of energy that helps the most vulnerable, a senior United Nations official has stressed.

Addressing the "Securing Asia's Energy Future" discussion at the Asia Society in New York yesterday, Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), <"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/oct/g53.asp">called for a switch to a "virtuous cycle of sustainable energy."

Such a cycle would entail emphasizing the quality over the quantity of economic growth; increased reliance on renewable energy; and taking action to mitigate climate change, she said.

"While energy security is the subject of interest today, its ultimate objective is inclusive and sustainable development that includes all, especially the poor and the women who among them who have been largely left out of the Asia-Pacific economic success story so far," Ms. Heyzer said, noting that one billion people in the region have no access to electricity.

Least-developed and landlocked countries, together with small island developing states, will suffer the most from rising energy insecurity, she noted.

ESCAP has identified several key measures that need to be taken in Asia and the Pacific, including research and development to spur technological innovation, removing trade barriers to enhance competition, and better management of energy demand.
Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
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EXPERTS EXAMINE RADIATION’S IMPACT ON PATIENTS AT UN GATHERING

EXPERTS EXAMINE RADIATION'S IMPACT ON PATIENTS AT UN GATHERING
New York, Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
A United Nations atomic energy meeting has kicked off in Buenos Aires, Argentina, today, drawing global experts to address safety concerns for patients undergoing tests and scans utilizing ionizing radiation.

"There has been concern that new technologies are not providing the amount of patient protection that medical professionals had expected," said Madan Rehani, a Radiation Safety Specialist with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said.

"This comes from continued radiation accidents in radiotherapy facilities, and continued reports of unnecessary radiation doses to patients in those diagnostic examinations."

The two-day event, which will examine the impact of new imaging and radiation therapy technologies in medicine, brings medical and radiation protection experts, along with medical machine manufacturers, together for the first time to agree on recommendations and guidelines.

Every year, 4 billion x-ray examinations are conducted, with 5 million people undergoing radiotherapy, but there is no clear record of how much radiation patients are exposed to.

While suggestions on bolstering radiological protection is available for health professionals in IAEA Member States, "in future we want to have information for patients themselves," said Dr. Rehani.

According to a UN report from 2000, patients are exposed to some 200 times – or even nearly 500 times in some nations – more ionizing radiation than medical workers. In dozens of countries, projects are under way to ascertain how much radiation people are receiving in different imaging procedures.

Dr. Rehani is leading a project, still in its infancy, seeking to create a "Smart Card" with a microchip noting the amount of radiation doses people receive.

"We don't intend to make it obligatory. It will be a voluntary system," the IAEA official said.
Oct 17 2008 1:10PM
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FIVE NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS OF SECURITY COUNCIL ELECTED TODAY

FIVE NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS OF SECURITY COUNCIL ELECTED TODAY
New York, Oct 17 2008 12:10PM
The General Assembly today elected Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms starting on 1 January next year.

The newly elected countries will replace Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama and South Africa when their terms on the 15-member body expire at the end of this year.

Council elections are held by secret ballot in the General Assembly, and a winning candidate requires a two-thirds majority of ballots of members present and voting. Formal balloting takes place even in those regions where there is only one candidate per available seat.
The Council's five other non-permanent members, whose terms end on 31 December 2009, are Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Libya and Viet Nam. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States.
Oct 17 2008 12:10PM
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UN VOICES CONCERN AT DISPLACEMENT OF OVER 9,000 IRAQI CHRISTIANS FROM MOSUL

UN VOICES CONCERN AT DISPLACEMENT OF OVER 9,000 IRAQI CHRISTIANS FROM MOSUL
New York, Oct 17 2008 11:10AM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed its concern at reports that some 9,360 Christians have been displaced from the Iraqi city of Mosul in the past week owing to threats, intimidation and attacks.

"We have received information from the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) in Mosul that approximately 1,560 families (some 9,360 people) have been displaced so far, although UNHCR cannot confirm this number," the agency's spokesperson, Ron Redmond, told reporters in Geneva.

"The displaced population would represent about half of the Christians in the Mosul area," he added.

Over the past few days, UNHCR has sent at least 10 field assessment missions to areas surrounding Mosul, including Telesquf, Batnaya, Bartilla, Baashiqa, Akre and Shekhan. It has also had teams in areas of Dahuk and Erbil, where Christians have sought refuge.

Mr. Redmond said that initial reports suggest that most Christian Iraqis decided to leave Mosul following direct as well as indirect threats and intimidation.

"One of those interviewed witnessed the killing of a Christian Iraqi on the street, while several of the displaced told us they had received printed threats at the university campus, in their homes and through text messages on their mobile phones.

"Several others told our teams that they left when they heard news of 11 reported killings of Christians in Mosul. Others were warned by family members, friends and neighbours of potential threats and decided to leave before it was too late," he reported.

Most of those that fled are staying with extended family members, friends within the host community or in collective community buildings, including church facilities.

"For now, most of the displaced we spoke to do not envisage return to their homes as an immediate option, as they fear for their lives. A few told us that they will only return if and when their safety and security can be assured by the local authorities," said Mr. Redmond.

UNHCR has highlighted an urgent need for food, clothes, non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, and stoves, as well as health facilities, hygiene kits, clean water and access to school.

The agency, together with its partner, International Medical Corps (IMC), have distributed non-food items to a total of 802 families – about 4,800 people – over the past week. It expects to reach over 1,500 families by early next week.
Oct 17 2008 11:10AM
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OVER 20,000 DISPLACED GEORGIANS RETURN TO VILLAGES IN BUFFER ZONE – UN

OVER 20,000 DISPLACED GEORGIANS RETURN TO VILLAGES IN BUFFER ZONE – UN
New York, Oct 17 2008 10:10AM
More than 20,000 people displaced by the fighting that broke out in Georgia in late August have returned to their villages in the buffer zone around the breakaway region of South Ossetia over the past week, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

An estimated 192,000 people were uprooted from their homes in the Caucasus country by the conflict between forces from Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia.

"Our teams monitoring the returns report that more than 20,000 people have headed back since the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the buffer zone on 8 October," Ron Redmond, with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-7KHGPY?OpenDocument">told reporters in Geneva.

"Most of these people are returning to their homes and villages in the buffer zone or checking to see if conditions are safe and acceptable. We are warning all of those going back to watch out for mines and unexploded ordnance. Some casualties have already been registered," he added.

The agency closed its tent camp in the town of Gori, south of South Ossetia, earlier this week after the last of the displaced left for their homes in the buffer zone, or were relocated to collective centres.

UNHCR estimates that 78,000 out of the 133,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Georgia have returned to their homes across the country. Meanwhile, Russian authorities in North Ossetia report that fewer than 2,000 people remain there out of some 30,000 who fled from South Ossetia back in August.

Returnees are being provided with tools and reconstruction materials to help them resettle in their villages. UNHCR is also working urgently to repair and rehabilitate collective centres and damaged houses for some 35,000 IDPs before the winter sets in. It is also distributing stoves and firewood, as well as additional blankets, mattresses, bed sheets and kitchen stoves.

UNHCR teams are also planning to convert unused public buildings into apartments for some 5,000 people who cannot return to their homes in the long term.

"We urgently need additional funds to ensure continued assistance, winterization and reconstruction programmes for the newly displaced population in the Caucasus region," Mr. Redmond stressed, adding that the agency has only received 31 per cent of the nearly $45 million needed to provide protection, shelter and assistance for the next six months to the displaced.
Oct 17 2008 10:10AM
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BAN JOINS COLLEAGUES IN COMPELLING STATES TO ACT AGAINST POVERTY

BAN JOINS COLLEAGUES IN COMPELLING STATES TO ACT AGAINST POVERTY
New York, Oct 17 2008 9:10AM
Senior United Nations officials today urged the international community to strengthen its efforts to lift the 1.4 billion people around the world living in abject poverty out of their desperate situation, as they marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that 60 years on from the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, hundreds of millions of people are still deprived of basic human rights such as food, housing, education and decent working conditions.

"Those forced to live in poverty often face social exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment. Poverty robs the poor of their human dignity," Mr. Ban said in a message issued today.

He also highlighted the challenges posed by the current economic uncertainties, saying that rising food and fuel prices and the global financial crisis threaten to negate the progress made to reduce poverty and hunger in many parts of the world, with an estimated 100 million more people at risk of falling into poverty.

Mr. Ban reminded governments of their commitments to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the internationally agreed targets to halve extreme poverty and address other social ills by 2015 – saying that many had pledged new resources to bolster food security, eradicate disease, ensure access to water and sanitation, and manage the financial crisis.

"These commitments are not a matter of charity, but an obligation in the pursuit of human rights for all. If we fail to keep our promise on the MDGs, we create the conditions for greater human misery and global insecurity," warned Mr. Ban.

Human rights challenges and poverty are often inextricably linked, noted Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a press release published today.

"International days such as this often stimulate fine words, but they need to be backed by deeds," Ms. Pillay said.

"A true commitment… [for] effective action, which will improve the actual day-to-day life of almost one quarter of the world's population who live in poverty, is still far from evident," she added.

Ms. Pillay noted that poverty and inequality often exacerbate abuse, neglect and discrimination, denying millions the enjoyment of their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights and ultimately their right to development.

The current global financial crisis and looming economic recession will have acute and dire consequences for those already living poverty, warned Magdalena Sepúlveda, the UN Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty.

She highlighted the trillion dollars committed in recent weeks to rescue the financial system while noting that last month's summit to renew the commitments to achieving the MDGs ended with pledges of $16 billion.

"Now more than ever, it must be understood that the protection of the fundamental rights of the poor is not a luxury that can be dismissed in time of economic hardship. It is a fundamental legal obligation that can never be ignored," said Ms. Sepúlveda.

She also explained that those living in poverty are stripped of their human dignity, and regularly experience discrimination and violence, and denied access to justice.

Meanwhile in Afghanistan – one of the poorest countries in the world, with over 40 per cent of the population living under the poverty line and another 20 per cent hovering just above it – a UN appeal to help address the food insecurity crisis for 70 per cent of the nation is still under-funded.

"Afghanistan is at an important crossroads and much depends on moving forward with the key poverty-reduction objectives that are part of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy," said the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's (UNAMA) Chief of Human Rights Norah Niland.

"Now is the time to translate the commitments, made by the Government of Afghanistan and its international partners, into concrete realities so that children can be students, fewer mothers die in childbirth, female-headed households can hold their families together and more jobs can be created."

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly designated the day to promote awareness of the need to eliminate poverty and destitution in all countries.
Oct 17 2008 9:10AM
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UN EXPERTS EXPLORE MERCENARY ACTIVITY IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

UN EXPERTS EXPLORE MERCENARY ACTIVITY IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
New York, Oct 17 2008 9:10AM
A group of United Nations experts have gathered in Moscow today to begin discussions on current practices in the Eastern European and Central Asian regions relating to the use of mercenaries and private military and security companies, as well as measures for the regulation and oversight of such entities.

The two-day regional consultation is being carried out by the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination, which reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.

The gathering brings together government representatives, experts, academics specialized on private military and security companies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as a representative from a private military and security company.

Experts hope to gain "a regional perspective about the current practices related to mercenaries and private military and security companies registered, operating or recruiting personnel in the region," according to a news release issued ahead of the visit.

They will also share information on steps countries in the region have taken to introduce legislation and/or other measures to regulate and monitor the activities of such companies on the global market.

Discussions will focus on, among other things, general guidelines, norms and basic principles for the regulation and oversight of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the global market to encourage the further protection of human rights.

The Group is composed of five independent experts, serving in their personal capacities. They are Alexander Nikitin (Russia), Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia), José Luis Gómez del Prado (Spain), Shaista Shameem (Fiji) and Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libya).

It will present its recommendations and conclusions at a future session of the Human Rights Council.
Oct 17 2008 9:10AM
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TOURISM INDUSTRY STARTING TO SUFFER FROM GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, UN AGENCY WARNS

TOURISM INDUSTRY STARTING TO SUFFER FROM GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, UN AGENCY WARNS
New York, Oct 16 2008 7:10PM
Global tourism is already feeling the effects of the financial crisis, slowing down over the northern summer this year, the United Nations tourism agency reports, warning that the industry could suffer a sharper downturn in the months ahead.

Consumer demand is falling in both the business and leisure tourism sectors, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which held a two-day Executive Council meeting that concluded yesterday in Madrid.

International tourism grew around 5 per cent between January and April this year, compared to the same period in 2007, but started slowing down when the summer holidays began in the Northern Hemisphere.

The World Tourism Barometer, compiled by a <"http://www.unwto.org/media/news/en/press_det.php?id=2901&idioma=E">UNWTO panel of experts, "now shows a perceptible loss of confidence regarding the short-term outlook," the agency said in a press release following the meeting.

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli told the Council's meeting that numerous tourism businesses worldwide were already suffering from the credit crunch and many consumers were cutting back on travel spending.

"Experience teaches us that tourism is resilient, but there is no denying that there is a certain stage of deterioration of the situation beyond which tourism too will begin to suffer," Mr. Frangialli said.

UNWTO said it expects that tourism could be hit even harder over the remaining months of this year and the first half of 2009 as the slowdown filters through the global economy.

The agency's Executive Council agreed to set up a "resilience committee" to support public and private sector members with accurate economic analysis and response mechanisms.
Oct 16 2008 7:10PM
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COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN NUCLEAR POWER GROWING, SAYS UN ATOMIC WATCHDOG CHIEF

COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN NUCLEAR POWER GROWING, SAYS UN ATOMIC WATCHDOG CHIEF
New York, Oct 16 2008 7:10PM
More than 50 countries have alerted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that they are considering utilizing nuclear power, the head of the United Nations body said today.

Mohamed ElBaradei told a meeting in Paris of the 50th anniversary of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that a decade ago, nuclear power's popularity was in question.

"When we talked about transferring nuclear technology to developing countries, we generally meant applications in medicine and industry, not nuclear power," the <"http://www.iaea.org/index.html">IAEA Director General said.

But the tides have turned and "change is in the air," he added, with many of the agency's Member States – mostly from the developing world – expressing interest in nuclear power.

One dozen countries, including Turkey and Viet Nam, are actively preparing nuclear programmes, while China is constructing six power reactors and Russia intends to build dozens of both large and small reactors by 2020.

Greater efforts are essential to ensure that nuclear power's future is "safe, proliferation-resistant and cost-effective," Mr. ElBaradei said.

"Every country has the right to develop nuclear power, but also a responsibility to do it properly," he noted.

But he cautioned that it is crucial to have realistic expectations of how quickly countries can have nuclear reactors online. "It can take a minimum of 10 years just to put the basic infrastructure in place. This is not an area where you can cut corners."
Oct 16 2008 7:10PM
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INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SEEKS MORE MATERIAL ON DARFUR ARREST WARRANT

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SEEKS MORE MATERIAL ON DARFUR ARREST WARRANT
New York, Oct 16 2008 6:10PM
The pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has given prosecutors one month to submit additional materials related to their request for an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes, including genocide, in the strife-torn Darfur region.

In July, prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo presented evidence against Mr. al-Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide allegedly committed by him though members of the State apparatus, the army and militiamen known as the Janjaweed.

Some 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed across Darfur, an impoverished and arid region of western Sudan, as a result of direct combat, disease or malnutrition since 2003. Another 2.7 million people have been displaced because of fighting among rebels, Government forces and the Janjaweed.

This is the second case arising from the situation in Darfur, which was referred to The Hague-based Court by the Security Council in 2005.

On Tuesday, the <"http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/430.html">ICC pre-trial chamber issued a decision requesting prosecutors submit the additional supporting material relating to the arrest warrant by 17 November.

The pre-trial chamber issued arrest warrants in May 2007 for Ahmad Harun, former Sudanese Minister of State for the Interior and now the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ali Kushayb, a Janjaweed leader.

Last month, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo urged international leaders to better protect civilians in Darfur and allow the ICC to successfully prosecute crimes committed in the war-torn Sudanese region.

"We presented a solid case. The evidence shows that crimes against Darfurians continue today," Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said.

Sudan's President "has complete control of his forces, and they are raping women today, they are promoting conditions in the camps to destroy complete communities and they are still bombing schools," he added.

In a related development, the head of the UN-African Union (AU) hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, today attended the opening session of the Initiative of the People of Sudan for Solving the Darfur issue in the capital Khartoum.

Along with UNAMID Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada, others in attendance at the gathering included Amr Musa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; and Jean Ping, AU Chairperson.
Oct 16 2008 6:10PM
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WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR UN POTATO-THEMED PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR UN POTATO-THEMED PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
New York, Oct 16 2008 5:10PM
A Peruvian and a Chinese photographer were announced today as winners of a world photography contest, launched by the United Nations to highlight the potato's key role in agriculture, the economy and world food security.

Part of the International Year of the Potato celebrations in 2008, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) awarded first prizes in the contest – called "Focus on a global food" – to professional photographer Eitan Abramovich, and amateur photographer Xi Huang.

The 1000 contest entries were reviewed and evaluated by a selection committee of eight panellists including five of the world's leading professionals, who granted second and third prizes in both the professional and amateur categories to photographers from Spain, Belarus, the Netherlands and the Philippines.

In support of the spirit of the International Year, photographers were invited to submit images that illustrated potato cultivation, processing, trade, marketing, consumption and utilization.

Sponsored by Nikon Europe and Irge Colore Srl, the event gave photographers an opportunity to showcase previous work or to capture new images depicting the vital crop, single digital images and "photo stories" of four to eight related images in either black or colour.

Coinciding with World Food Day – observed annually on 16 October to mark the founding of FAO – the "focus on global food" contest works to support the day's ethos to highlight the first Millennium Development Goal (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDG) to halve hunger and poverty by the year 2015.
Oct 16 2008 5:10PM
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THREE STUDENTS WIN FIRST-EVER UN-YOUTUBE ONLINE VIDEO CONTEST ON HUNGER

THREE STUDENTS WIN FIRST-EVER UN-YOUTUBE ONLINE VIDEO CONTEST ON HUNGER
New York, Oct 16 2008 5:10PM
Three university students from the United States will head to Ethiopia next month to film the work of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) after winning the first-ever online video competition organized by the agency and YouTube to raise awareness about global hunger.

The winning video, entitled "Time is Running Out," highlights the grim fact that a child dies of hunger every six seconds by featuring a series of photos of children in groups, with some slowly fading out of the picture, with the sound of a ticking clock in the background.

The video was produced by three students from Auburn University in Alabama – Emma Thompson, Meri Kate Purgason and Collin Butler – who beat out some tough competition, including a professional filmmaker, in the HungerBytes competition, launched by <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2961">WFP last November and hosted on YouTube.

"We feel deeply moved and honoured," said Ms. Purgason, a 20-year-old marketing student. "I believe the war on hunger is one that can be fought and won – and that gives me a lot of hope."

Their video, which can be viewed at <"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_fpRmpafwo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_fpRmpafwo, was chosen from among five finalists chosen by a panel of leading figures in the fields of film, web and humanitarian aid, including Edward Zwick, Director of <i>Blood Diamond</i> and <i>The Last Samurai</i>, Oscar-winning producer Cathy Schulman (<i>.Crash, Darfur Now, The Illusionist</i>) and Steve Grove, head of YouTube News and Politics.

The five finalist videos, narrowed down from more than 70 short video entries, were on view for two months of voting on YouTube, with the winning video being the one that garnered the most views.

The four runners-up are a video of a man struggling to open a tin can without tools, a woman miming cooking a meal without food, a well-to-do family sitting down to dinner and choosing which one of them is to eat that night, and a group of young people asking everyone to pitch in to make a difference in the fight against hunger.

The winners were announced today to coincide with World Food Day, which seeks to draw attention to the 923 million people around the globe who go hungry every day.

"We wanted to reach a new group of activists and humanitarians," said Nancy Roman, WFP's Director of Communications. "The YouTube generation is confident, forward-thinking and web-savvy. Their involvement in hunger initiatives can have a powerful and widespread impact on the fight against hunger."

During the trip to Ethiopia, the winning team will visit WFP's largest food assistance operation, which is currently targeting an estimated 9.6 million hungry people suffering from the effects of drought and high food prices.
Oct 16 2008 5:10PM
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POOR NATIONS MUST ALSO PLAY ROLE IN GLOBAL RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL CRISIS – UN

POOR NATIONS MUST ALSO PLAY ROLE IN GLOBAL RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL CRISIS – UN
New York, Oct 16 2008 4:10PM
A wide range of countries should play an important role in shaping policies to cope with the current global financial crisis, according to senior United Nations development experts who warned that the impact of the turmoil on poor nations is being overlooked as "economic giants" deal with the emergency.

Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (<"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/StartPage.asp?intItemID=2068">UNCTAD) today voiced concern for what he called "innocent bystanders" in the widening global financial crisis.

"The impact on developing countries will be much deeper than was anticipated," he said during a meeting with UNCTAD's governing body, the Trade and Development Board, in Geneva.

Certain sectors of their economies "are beginning to suffer, and this is only the beginning," he cautioned, adding that volatile exchange-rate movements affecting some of these countries will not help.

"Trade will suffer, and the commodities boom that has helped developing countries for a number of years now is ending," said Mr. Supachai.

He noted that a real issue will be whether any cash will be left for credit and development aid needed for efforts such as achieving the anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline, known as the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs), as well as to boost productive capacities and cope with issues like climate change.

Other issues that need to be addressed include the fate of smaller private banks, preventing "capital from fleeing from developing countries," and regulating liberalized global markets to reduce volatility and risk, especially for small nations.

Mr. Supachai stressed that adapting the global financial system "must be a global effort," that includes the participation of all countries and the UN.

The President of the Trade and Development Board, Debapriya Bhattacharya of Bangladesh, noted that the crisis "is complex and interrelated, it has yet to fully unfold, and the impacts are not yet completely clear."

However, there will be repercussions for trade, the currencies, and the investment prospects of the world's less-advanced nations, he told the meeting. "It's not just the extent of the problem, but how to manage the pace of it."

Heiner Flassbeck, Director of UNCTAD's Division on Globalization and Development Strategies, described the current financial turmoil as "a global de-leveraging, a global going out of risky positions. That is all right on its own – in fact we have said for several years that this was going to happen – but it can go too fast. It must be slowed down by government intervention."

He warned of a "huge slowdown in trade due to the global recession that is looming.

"The current malaise is that we have built a huge casino next to the real economy, and given too many people the means to play there, and now that casino has collapsed," he told participants. "We need to realize, to learn the lesson, that this kind of casino is not productive, is not helpful. We must go back to balanced and real economic relations and to balanced relations between currencies."

The current financial crisis will also feature high on the agenda when Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convenes a meeting of his senior Chief Executives Board, which brings together the heads of the world body's various entities, next week in New York.
Oct 16 2008 4:10PM
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BIOENERGY COULD REVERSE POVERTY IN WEST AFRICA, SAYS NEW UN STUDY

BIOENERGY COULD REVERSE POVERTY IN WEST AFRICA, SAYS NEW UN STUDY
New York, Oct 16 2008 4:10PM
Sustainable bioenergy is a weapon that can be used by West African nations to combat poverty, according to a new United Nations-backed report released today.

The new study – a joint effort by the UN Foundation (UNF), the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and the Energy and Security Group – examines bioenergy's potential in the eight nations of the Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA), which comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

"The development, use, and commercialization of bioenergy offer UEMOA member countries vital economic, social, and environmental opportunities for transforming rural areas," the report noted.

If both produced and consumed locally, it could be a crucial tool used to address poverty, it added.

"However, a strong policy framework at the local, national, and regional levels is required to ensure that these benefits are realized, shared equitably, and that negative impacts are minimized," the new publication said.

Policies must concentrate on the impact of bioenergy development on food security, the environment and the agricultural production system.

The eight UEMOA nations "possess a rich resource base that can be sustained by a combination of good policies and practices to expand the production of and access to food, fuel, and fibre," according to the report.

"Undertaking these strategies to improve agriculture and forest productivity, protect watersheds, and produce bioenergy should also strengthen their ability to adapt to climate change."
Oct 16 2008 4:10PM
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SOCCER STARS TO SCORE GOAL AGAINST POVERTY IN MOROCCAN MATCH, SAYS UN AGENCY

SOCCER STARS TO SCORE GOAL AGAINST POVERTY IN MOROCCAN MATCH, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Oct 16 2008 3:10PM
World Cup winners and United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors, Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane, announced today that the sixth annual football "Match Against Poverty" will take place in Morocco next month.

Since 2003 the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2008/october/ronaldo-and-zidane-announce-the-next-match-against-poverty.en">UNDP) Goodwill Ambassadors have captained two teams of international soccer stars in a bid to mobilize the public in attacking poverty and to promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to halve world poverty by 2015.

Between 2008 and 2015 the Brazilian and French internationals are scheduled to play in eight games, each promoting one of the eight MDGs and the funds raised at the games going to projects supporting the goal spotlighted by the match.

The theme for this year's match in the northern city of Fés, the first to be played outside Europe, is centred on the goal to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Proceeds raised through the game will go to UNDP anti-poverty projects around the world, including a national project in Morocco.

"We are now more than halfway towards the target date, 2015, by which the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs are to be achieved," said UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis.

"Despite many significant achievements, we need to continue our campaign to reach them. Initiatives like the Match Against Poverty… are an important contribution," Mr. Dervis added.
Oct 16 2008 3:10PM
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NEXT ROUND OF TALKS TO CEMENT UN-BACKED SOMALI PEACE DEAL ANNOUNCED

NEXT ROUND OF TALKS TO CEMENT UN-BACKED SOMALI PEACE DEAL ANNOUNCED
New York, Oct 16 2008 1:11PM
Welcoming continuing regional efforts to support the recent accord aiming to bring peace to war-torn Somalia, the top United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation today announced upcoming talks between two key committees set up as part of the agreement.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah said that the third round of talks of the Joint Security Committee, tasked with implementing security arrangements, and the High Level Committee, dealing with political cooperation, justice and reconciliation, will be held on 25-26 October in Djibouti.

Mr. Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, led the talks that resulted in the Djibouti Agreement signed in August, under which the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the rebel Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) formally agreed to end all armed confrontation between them.

The Joint Security Committee has been meeting over the past week in South Africa to plan for the next set of meetings, assisted by the UN and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The UN and the World Bank will convene an international donors' gathering early next year to raise funds for a one-year Somali recovery programme, he said.

"I hope the conference will have a positive outcome which will help the Somali people to benefit from working towards peace," the official said.

Somali refugees taking shelter in Dadaab in north-eastern Kenya recently expressed to him their desire to return to their home country. "However, the continuing violence means that instead, thousands are fleeing their homeland every month," he noted.
Oct 16 2008 1:11PM
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INCOME GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IS HUGE AND GROWING, WARNS UN REPORT

INCOME GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IS HUGE AND GROWING, WARNS UN REPORT
New York, Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
The gap between high and low wage earners has increased dramatically in most of the world since the early 1990s despite strong economic growth that created millions of new jobs, according to a report published today by the United Nations labour agency.

The new study also <"http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_099406/index.htm">said that the major share of the cost of the current financial and economic crisis will rest on the shoulders of hundreds of millions of people who have not shared in the benefits of the previous global economic expansion.

"This report shows conclusively that the gap between richer and poorer households widened since the 1990s," said Raymond Torres, Director of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) International Institute for Labour Studies.

"The present global financial crisis is bound to make matters worse unless long-term structural reforms are adopted," added Mr. Torres, whose institute is responsible for the report.

The report noted that while some income inequality is useful in rewarding effort, talent and innovation, huge differences can be counter-productive and damaging for most economies, adding that "rising income inequality represents a danger to the social fabric."

As economies expanded, global employment rose by 30 per cent between the early 1990s and 2007 alongside a redistribution of income away from labour, with the share of wages in total national income (GDP) declining significantly.

The largest drop in wages as a share of GDP was 13 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean while advanced economies saw a fall of 9 per cent. At the same time workers and their families became increasingly indebted to fund housing investment and consumption in countries with unregulated financial innovation, according to the report.

The gap in income inequality is also widening between top executives and the average employee, with the chief executive officers of the 15 largest companies in the United States, for example, earning 520 times more than the average worker in 2007, up from 360 times more in 2003.

The study also said that excessive income inequalities could be associated with higher crime rates, lower life-expectancy, and in the case of poor countries malnutrition and an increased likelihood of children being taken out of school to work.

"Already now, there are widespread perceptions in many countries that globalization does not work to the advantage of the majority of the population," said the study, entitled World of Work Report 2008: Income inequalities in the age of financial globalization.
Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
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SRI LANKA: UN FOOD CONVOY TO WAR-WRACKED NORTH FORCED TO TURN BACK

SRI LANKA: UN FOOD CONVOY TO WAR-WRACKED NORTH FORCED TO TURN BACK
New York, Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
A major United Nations food convoy headed for northern Sri Lanka was today forced to turn back because of fresh fighting in the area between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The UN will seek renewed security assurances from both sides before attempting to make the route tomorrow morning, the world body's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SHIG-7KGG2N?OpenDocument">said in a statement from Colombo, the capital.

The convoy – the second to be dispatched in as many weeks – had been headed for the northern area known as the Vanni in a bid to reach an estimated 230,000 civilians who have been displaced behind the lines of confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

Comprised of 50 trucks, the World Food Programme (WFP) convoy was carrying 750 tons of food when it left the town of Vavuniya at lunchtime, and it was expected to reach its destination by this evening.
Intensified clashes between the military and LTTE members in recent weeks have displaced tens of thousands of people and sparked warnings from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials about the humanitarian impact on civilians.
Earlier this month at least 27 people were killed and scores more were wounded in a suicide bomb attack on the offices of one of Sri Lanka's opposition parties in the north-central town of Anuradhapura.
A correspondent of Sirasa TV, Rashmi Mohamed, was among the people killed in the attack, which was condemned today by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The agency's Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura described the attack as cowardly.
"In view of UNESCO's mandate regarding the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and freedom of speech, I must draw particular attention to the unacceptable killing of journalist Rashmi Mohamed," he <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43696&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">said.
"In doing so, I wish to honour journalists and other media workers, who, when exercising their profession that contributes to ensuring greater transparency, accountability and participation in democratic processes, put their lives at risk. It is essential that every possible step be taken to improve the safety of journalists."
Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
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LATEST KILLING OF IRAQI JOURNALIST DRAWS CONDEMNATION FROM UNESCO CHIEF

LATEST KILLING OF IRAQI JOURNALIST DRAWS CONDEMNATION FROM UNESCO CHIEF
New York, Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
The United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today condemned the killing earlier this month of a reporter in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, the latest in a long line of assassinations of journalists in the violence-wracked country.

Dyar Abas Ahmed, a reporter for the independent news website Eye Iraq, was shot repeatedly by unknown assailants while walking with a friend on 10 October, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) said in a press release. He was in his 20s.

At least 135 other journalists have been killed in Iraq while on duty since United States-led forces invaded in March 2003, according to the independent Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), making the country the most unsafe in the world for media workers to practise their craft.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura described the murder of Mr. Ahmed as "a reprehensible crime" that affected Iraqi society as a whole.

"The frequency of such crimes in Iraq is unacceptable," Mr. Matsuura said. "It is essential that the Iraqi authorities do all they can to bring the culprits of this crime to justice and do all in their power to improve the safety of journalists in the country."
Oct 16 2008 1:10PM
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UNESCO CHIEF DISTRESSED BY LOSS OF LIFE OUTSIDE ANCIENT CAMBODIAN TEMPLE

UNESCO CHIEF DISTRESSED BY LOSS OF LIFE OUTSIDE ANCIENT CAMBODIAN TEMPLE
New York, Oct 16 2008 11:10AM
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has voiced his grave concern at the recent clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers outside the Preah Vihear temple, which have reportedly led to the deaths of two people.

Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura reiterated UNESCO's support of all efforts and initiatives that promote cooperation and dialogue.

He also added his voice to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who, in a statement yesterday, called on both parties to exercise utmost restraint and urged them to expedite bilateral talks so that their differences can be resolved peacefully.

The Temple of Preah Vihear, which dates back to the 11th century, was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in July for its "exceptional universal value."

UNESCO noted that the inscription "engages the collective responsibility of the international community to ensure its protection."
Oct 16 2008 11:10AM
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WORLD FOOD DAY REMINDER OF DAILY CRISIS BORNE BY MILLIONS, SAY UN OFFICIALS

WORLD FOOD DAY REMINDER OF DAILY CRISIS BORNE BY MILLIONS, SAY UN OFFICIALS
New York, Oct 16 2008 10:10AM
As the eyes of the world continue to watch the ups and downs of global markets amid the current financial turmoil, United Nations officials are calling attention today to another global crisis – hunger – which affects millions daily and kills a child every six seconds.

"This year's World Food Day comes at a time of crisis," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states in his <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3477">message for the occasion. "Global financial turmoil is exacerbating concerns about rising food and fuel costs, which have already driven 75 million people deeper into the abyss of hunger and poverty."

Mr. Ban notes that this "colossal human tragedy" is unfolding as the world fights to keep the promise made in the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) – to reduce hunger and poverty by half by the year 2015.

Even before prices started rising, 800 million people were going to sleep hungry every night, the Secretary-General points out. And now, with energy costs rising and the price of food having more than doubled in the past year alone, an additional 100 million people could be pushed into hunger and poverty.

"These are life-and-death matters that we must confront with serious thought and resolute action," he adds, calling on Governments, organizations and citizens to forge meaningful partnerships to overcome these challenges so the world can meet all the MDGs and, ultimately, usher in a world free of hunger and poverty.

The head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) agreed that at a time when the world's attention is consumed by the financial crisis, it is appropriate to focus today on the global hunger crisis, which is a daily reality for families across the globe.

"Rapidly rising food shortages, dramatic increases in fuel costs, and profound changes in climate conditions conspired this year to bring new dimensions of suffering and hardship to the poor, depriving almost one billion people of the food they need to live a healthy life," Executive Director Josette Sheeran <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2960">said in her message for the Day.

"On this day, we remember those who have lived with the ache of hunger, for too long . . . and who now need our help even more," she added.

World Food Day is observed annually on 16 October, the day on which the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was founded in 1945. At a ceremony today at FAO headquarters in Rome, Director-General Jacques Diouf called for a political and financial push to boost sustainable agriculture in the world's poor countries, double global food production and free the world of hunger and malnutrition.

"I wish to reaffirm that we know what needs to be done to eradicate the hunger of 923 million people in the world. We also know what needs to be done to double world food production and feed a population that is expected to rise to 9 billion people by 2050."

He noted that $22 billion was pledged to promote global food security earlier this year, but that only 10 per cent of this has so far materialized – mainly for emergency food aid.

"What we need ... is political will and delivery on financial commitments, if we are to be able to make the essential investments that are needed to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in the poorest countries of the world," he stated.

Describing the situation of hunger in the world as "alarming," the independent UN expert on the right to food has called for a new production system to tackle the global food crisis.

In a message to mark the Day, UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter states that "the violation on a daily basis of the right to food for hundreds of millions of people worldwide has its roots in an outdated and inadequate production system, rather than in the actual quantity of food available.

"But there is hope in this crisis," he adds. "Indeed, if the right choices are made now, this shock may even prove salutary, for it provides governments and international agencies with an opportunity to learn from what happened."

Among the activities planned in over 150 countries to mark this year's World Food Day is the popular Run for Food, which will take place in Rome on 19 October involving 4,000 people with a similar event to be held on the same day in Milan.

Other major events are also planned in Albania, Egypt, Morocco, Republic of Korea and a number of Asian and Latin American countries during this month. Former United States President Bill Clinton will participate in a World Food Day ceremony at UN headquarters in New York on 23 October.
Oct 16 2008 10:10AM
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UNICEF URGES ACTION TO TACKLE ZIMBABWE’S EDUCATION ‘CRISIS’

UNICEF URGES ACTION TO TACKLE ZIMBABWE'S EDUCATION 'CRISIS'
New York, Oct 16 2008 10:10AM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent action to address Zimbabwe's education system – once the best in Africa – which is suffering due to a combination of low salaries, poor attendance by both teachers and students, and transport and food problems.

Routine monitoring visits in recent weeks found that with national exams looming, some 40 per cent of the country's teachers were attending lessons, a third of pupils were reporting for classes and district education officers were ill equipped to run national exams.

"The current education crisis has crippled schools across the country leaving most school operating way below capacity and the sector in an apparent state of emergency," the agency said in a news release.

UNICEF Representative Roeland Monasch noted that between a two-month teachers strike, limited learning materials, political violence and displacement, Zimbabwe's children have lost a whole year of schooling.

"The depletion of teachers in schools, transport and food problems faced by the remaining teachers and lack of resources have left the sector tottering on the brink of collapse," he stated.

The Southern African nation's education system had once been the best on the continent, but a decrease in public funding, coupled with soaring school fees, lack of teachers and low morale owing to inadequate salaries have created tremendous challenges.

"Education remains the engine to drive Zimbabwe's long-term prospects. It is critical that the sector is not left to collapse, enduring solutions on salaries, food and working conditions should be reached soon, the monitoring visits should be beefed up, the situation in schools require urgent action," said Mr. Monasch.

"Zimbabwe's children are already suffering on multiple fronts, denying them an education to better their prospects is unacceptable," he added.

UNICEF, which already provides support to the Ministry of Education Sport and Culture, said it is ready to assist the Government in improving the current situation.

Over the last two years, the agency has invested an estimated $12 million in the education sector, including through the construction and furnishing of classrooms, provision of text books to primary schools, teacher training and setting up of sanitation facilities in rural schools. It also pays school fees for 150,000 orphaned and vulnerable children.
Oct 16 2008 10:10AM
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