UN BLUE HELMETS CONTINUE RESCUE EFFORTS ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL COLLAPSES IN HAITI

UN BLUE HELMETS CONTINUE RESCUE EFFORTS ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL COLLAPSES IN HAITI
New York, Nov 8 2008 10:10PM
More than 24 hours after a school building in Haiti collapsed on hundreds of children during class, United Nations peacekeepers were still trying to rescue survivors from the rubble.

While there exists a chance that people are still alive trapped under the building''s rubble, the emergency rescue workers cannot use heavy equipment, the UN Secretary-General''s Special Representative to the Caribbean country, Hédi Annabi, told reporters on the scene today.

The upper storey of the two-storey school collapsed during morning classes yesterday, crushing all of the classrooms on the ground level of La Promesse, collège Evangélique, a school in a suburb of the country''s capital, Port-au-Prince.

As of yesterday afternoon at least 11 people had died in the hillside school, attended by students from kindergarten through to high school, and 75 had been taken to hospital with serious
injuries, reported the UN mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Blue helmets, including military engineers from Brazil, Chile and Ecuador, as well as military from the Philippines, arrived on the scene with ambulances, three generators and three sets of industrial strength lighting to aid emergency rescue efforts through the night, and provided hundreds of litres of water for dehydrated survivors.

"Time is against us," said the Commissioner of UN Police, Mamadou Mountaga Diallo.

"We helped evacuate many people. Others are still under the rubble. It is a real disaster. We''re here with the Haitian National Police to facilitate rescue and evacuation," Mr. Diallo added.

MINUSTAH military and police are working in support of the Haitian authorities to rescue the students and teachers, care for survivors, recover remains and facilitate the provision of urgently needed supplies.

A press release published by the mission yesterday said, "MINUSTAH wishes to express its profound shock and sadness
at the tragic suffering and loss of life that have resulted from the collapse of a school in Pétion-Ville."

"MINUSTAH presents its deepest sympathy to the victims and their families, and expresses its solidarity with the Haitian Government and people at this most difficult time."

Nov 8 2008 10:10PM
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DR CONGO KILLINGS 'CONSTITUTE WAR CRIMES', SAYS UN OFFICIAL

DR CONGO KILLINGS 'CONSTITUTE WAR CRIMES', SAYS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Nov 8 2008 8:10PM
The recent killing of civilians by armed militia in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) "constitute war crimes", the top United Nations official to the country said today, while welcoming the outcome of yesterday's high-level meeting, aimed at ending the crisis.

Violent clashes between renegade-general Laurent Nkunda's CNDP rebels and pro-government PARECO/Mayi Mayi militia that broke out on Tuesday in the town of Kiwanja, in North Kivu, were condemned by the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the DRC, Alan Doss, as "serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law."

Mr. Doss, who is also head of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC), called for all armed groups to withdraw from the area around Rutshuru, the scene of this week's violent outbreak, to allow MONUC to protect people in the area and enable the safe return of thousands who fled the fi
ghting.

The clashes earlier this week continue the escalation of hostilities in North Kivu province over the last two months between Government forces (FARDC) and the CNDP headed by Mr. Nkunda, which has displaced some 252,000 Congolese, on top of the 800,000 already forced from their homes from previous fighting.

Mr. Doss applauded the statement from the UN-backed summit of African leaders in Nairobi yesterday, which urged for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC, and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to ensure that the hundreds of thousands displaced can get the assistance they need.
"An immediate response can be made to the humanitarian crisis and the immediate implementation of the Joint Nairobi and Goma agreements," Mr. Doss told reporters while stopping off in Goma on his return from the Nairobi meeting.
The Nairobi communiqué is the November 2007 agreement under which the DRC and Rwanda have agreed to work together against threats to peace and stability in the re
gion. The Goma agreement, signed by the Government and armed groups in January, included a commitment by rebels to withdraw their troops to either disarm or join the brassage process, whereby ex-combatants from armed groups are retrained to form part of FARDC.

"The Summit also established a facilitation mechanism which will involve, ¬in addition to the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes [Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria], all heads of State of the region," Mr. Doss added.

Nov 8 2008 8:10PM
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UN REPORTS HIGHLIGHT ISRAELI INFRINGEMENT OF PALESTINIANS’ RIGHTS

UN REPORTS HIGHLIGHT ISRAELI INFRINGEMENT OF PALESTINIANS' RIGHTS
New York, Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spotlighted in two new reports to the General Assembly how Israeli practices impinge upon the rights of Palestinians through the continued building of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and other means.

In one publication, Mr. Ban stressed that United Nations resolutions and a 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) both reflect how Israel's construction of settlements – "in effect, the transfer by an occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies" – breach the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Other activities, such as land requisition and the destruction of houses and orchards, are also "illegal," he writes.

Between 1967 and the end of last year, Israel set up 120 settlements in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, and as of this August, over 1,000 new buildings were being erected in the settlements, the <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/519">report says.

"The existence of settlements restricts the freedom of movement of Palestinians resident in the West Bank in several ways," the Secretary-General notes, with Palestinians barred from entering settlement areas without a special permit.

"Despite the claim of the Government of Israel that the internal closure system within the West Bank is imposed on Palestinian residents there for security purposes, most of those internal restrictions on movement are largely premised on the protection of Israeli settlers and settlements and are designed to provide settlers with unobstructed travel capacity between settlements and to Israel itself."

Further, the report, covering the period between January and August of this year, says that one-third of settlements and land incorporated into these areas is private Palestinian-owned land, much of which was expropriated by Israel on the grounds of military necessity.
Mr. Ban calls on the Israeli Government to abide by its commitments to dismantle outposts built after March 2001 and freeze settlement activity called for in the so-called Road Map, which foresees a two-State solution with Israel and the Palestinians living side by side in peace, as well as the Annapolis Joint Statement of 27 November 2007, which was intended to reinvigorate the peace process.

He also urges Israel to take steps to curb attacks by Israeli settlers against civilians in the occupied territory and guarantee that violent incidents are properly investigated.

The second <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/518">report made public today covers the same time period as the other, and says that the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is "worsening."

Regarding closures, the Secretary-General says that Israel's closures have had serious consequences, including economic ones, on Palestinians. "The restrictions continue to undermine the enjoyment of other rights guaranteed under international human rights law by effectively impeding access to health care, education and employment."

In the West Bank, restrictions have blocked access to such services as health and education, while "approximately 1.4 million Palestinians are forcibly confined in the Gaza Strip, where social and economic conditions are deteriorating rapidly," he writes.

The wall erected in June 2002 by Israel to separate it from the West Bank further impedes access for Palestinians, the report says. "In addition to its immediate impact on freedom of movement, the wall and the associated restrictions of movement significantly undermine the enjoyment of a host of other fundamental human rights."

It calls on the Assembly and the international community to take measures to further the implementation of the decisions, resolutions and recommendations of the Security Council, ICJ and UN human rights mechanisms.

The Secretary-General also says the Assembly should ask for the Council's help in putting into practice the ICJ's 2004 advisory opinion that said that the building of a barrier in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal, called for an end to construction and said Israel should make reparations for any damage caused.
Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
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SECURITY COUNCIL DISMAYED BY ANOTHER DELAY TO IVORIAN ELECTIONS

SECURITY COUNCIL DISMAYED BY ANOTHER DELAY TO IVORIAN ELECTIONS
New York, Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
Another delay in the holding of elections in Côte d'Ivoire – the third consecutive one since the signing of the north-south peace pact last year – could have serious repercussions for the West African nation's entire peace process, the Security Council said today.

Efforts to consolidate peace took a step forward on 15 September when the twin identification and registration processes were launched, but the delays which have occurred since for the polls slated to take place on 30 November "have proven greater than expected," the Security Council said in a presidential statement.

Last month, the Secretary-General's Special Representative Y. J. Choi cautioned that if the elections are not held on time, they will likely be deferred for several months due to logistical issues.

"Unfortunately, the pace of progress has been painfully slow," he told the Council on 27 October. The pace will soon be accelerated, but "the magnitude of delay has taken almost everybody by surprise."

The Ouagadougou Agreement – signed in neighbouring Burkina Faso 18 months ago between the Government, which controlled the south, and the rebel Forces Nouvelles, which held the north – called for a number of measures to resolve the crisis that first divided the country in 2002.

They included creating a new transitional government; organizing free and fair presidential elections; merging the Forces Nouvelles and the national defence and security forces; dismantling the militias and disarming ex-combatants; and replacing the so-called zone of confidence separating north and south with a green line to be monitored by the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

In today's statement, read out by Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for November, the Council urged all sides "to demonstrate their political determination to fulfil the commitments taken in the Ouagadougou Agreement and in the framework of its follow-up mechanisms."

The 15-member body also appealed to the sides to "take immediately and as a priority the concrete steps necessary to complete the identification and registration of voters' operations in a credible and transparent manner before the end of January 2009."

It voiced its support for a "credible electoral process" in Côte d'Ivoire, which is rebuilding after a brutal 14-year civil war, on the understanding that presidential elections will be staged before the end of the northern spring next year.

Last week, the Council voted to renew for another year a ban on diamonds and an arms embargo against Côte d'Ivoire, as well as targeted sanctions restricting the travel of individuals.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, it said it would review these measures next October to determine whether progress has been made in putting key aspects of the peace process into place and positive steps made in the long-delayed elections.
Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
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NEPAL: SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR ALL SIDES TO MAKE COMPROMISES IN PEACE PROCESS

NEPAL: SECURITY COUNCIL STRESSES NEED FOR ALL SIDES TO MAKE COMPROMISES IN PEACE PROCESS
New York, Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
The Security Council today urged Nepal's new Government and its other major political parties to cooperate in a spirit of compromise to ensure the peace process in the South Asian country continues.

In remarks to the press, Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said the 15-member panel reaffirmed its support for the peace process and welcomed the progress made so far.

Nepal endured a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and the Maoists signed a peace deal in 2006 and conducted Constituent Assembly elections earlier this year.

In May, the nation abolished its 240-year-old monarchy and declared itself a republic. Ram Baran Yadav was subsequently elected as the country's first President.

The UN has been assisting Nepal in its peace process through a special political mission, known as UNMIN, set up in January 2007. As part of its mandate, the mission monitors the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and the Nepal Army, and assists in monitoring ceasefire arrangements.

Mr. Urbina said the Council members urged the Government and the other political parties to "work together in a spirit of compromise" to expedite the peace process and take the decisions necessary to allow UNMIN to carry out its work.

Earlier, the head of UNMIN and the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Nepal, Ian Martin, briefed the Council on the most recent developments, particularly concerning the work of the mission.

Last weekend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Nepal, telling its leaders to forge ahead with rehabilitating and integrating thousands of Maoist ex-fighters as part of the peace process.
Nov 7 2008 7:10PM
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UN-BACKED SUMMIT URGES CEASEFIRE IN DR CONGO, ACCESS FOR AID WORKERS

UN-BACKED SUMMIT URGES CEASEFIRE IN DR CONGO, ACCESS FOR AID WORKERS
New York, Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
African leaders meeting at a United Nations-backed summit in Nairobi have urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the recent crisis can get the assistance they need.

Fighting in the eastern province of North Kivu between Government forces (FARDC) and the National Congress in Defence of the People (known as the CNDP), a militia led by former general Laurent Nkunda, has displaced as many as 252,000 Congolese in recent months.

Today's summit, hosted by the African Union (AU), brought together DRC President Joseph Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, which borders North Kivu, as well as the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the heads of State called for "an immediate ceasefire by all the armed men and militia in North Kivu."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – who attended the summit along with his newly-appointed Special Envoy Olusegun Obasanjo and his Special Representative in the DRC, Alan Doss – made a similar call, urging all the militias to stop the fighting and resolve their issues through dialogue. "They must think about the future of their own country and people in the region," he told reporters after the meeting.

He also highlighted the need to deal with the "armed group challenge" in order to end the crisis in the DRC, in his address to the summit earlier today.

"For far too long, peace and security in your region has been threatened by armed groups, domestic and foreign, present on the soil of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have been operating from there with impunity, aggravating strains between your countries and between your peoples," he <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11908.doc.htm">told the gathering.

In their joint statement, the heads of State also called for setting up a humanitarian corridor throughout North Kivu so that the "humanitarian crisis and tragedy" can be addressed. They also called on the UN and all humanitarian agencies assisting those affected to "continue to sustain and increase their support."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today that the total number of displaced in North Kivu since September is estimated to be 252,000 people, on top of the existing 800,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from previous hostilities.

Today's meeting also called on Mr. Ban to strengthen the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC, known as <"http://www.monuc.org/Home.aspx?lang=en">MONUC, and provide adequate resources to address the volatile situation.

The 17,000-strong MONUC has been stretched to the limit in recent weeks trying to carry out its mandate to protect civilians amid the violence. Mr. Ban has requested the Security Council to authorize another 3,000 troops to boost the mission's strength on the ground.

Even as the summit was taking place, there were reports of heavy clashes between FARDC and CNDP in Kibati, which is about nine kilometres north of the North Kivu capital of Goma, leading to further displacements.

Meanwhile, a preliminary fact-finding mission from MONUC visited Kiwanja, which is north of the town of Rutshuru, after receiving reports that several civilians were killed there during and after fighting between CNDP and PARECO/Mayi Mayi militia earlier this week.

"It is clear that serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were committed in Kiwanja between 4 and 6 November," the mission said in a news release, adding that a more thorough investigation is required.
Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
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STONING DEATH OF SOMALI TEENAGER SPARKS OUTRAGE FROM UN ADVOCATE

STONING DEATH OF SOMALI TEENAGER SPARKS OUTRAGE FROM UN ADVOCATE
New York, Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
The United Nations envoy tasked with advocating for children caught up in armed conflict today voiced her horror at last week's stoning to death of a 13-year-old Somali girl who was a victim of rape.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/">Children and Armed Conflict, issued a <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/2008-11-07192.html">statement condemning the killing and calling for better protection for children in Somalia, which remains beset by widespread fighting.

"The incident highlights the extreme nature of violence against children and women in Somalia, which has been heightened by the increasing lawlessness," she said.

Aisha Duhulow was stoned to death in a stadium full of spectators in the southern port city of Kismayo on 27 October after authorities found her guilty of adultery.

But reports indicate that she had been raped by three men while walking to visit her grandmother in the capital Mogadishu. After the attack, Aisha asked for protection from prosecutors, who in turn accused her of adultery and sentenced her to death.

According to media reports, Aisha pleaded for her life before she was forced into a hole, buried up to her neck and then pelted with stones by some 50 men until she died in front of more than 1,000 people.

In her statement Ms. Coomaraswamy also raised concerns about the widespread recruitment and use of children as soldiers by all parties to the conflict in Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government since 1991. Children are being killed or maimed on a daily basis as a result of military operations, she added.

"It is the duty of the international community and the local authorities to stop these violations and to ensure better protection for children. No efforts should be spared."
Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
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AFRICAN UNION MISSION POSITIVE ABOUT DEPLOYMENT OF UN TROOPS IN DARFUR

AFRICAN UNION MISSION POSITIVE ABOUT DEPLOYMENT OF UN TROOPS IN DARFUR
New York, Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
An African Union fact-finding mission to Darfur, aiming to mend the increasingly fraught relationship between Chad and Sudan, visited the hybrid United Nations-AU operation in the war-torn region today.

The AU fact-finding team, led by former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya, follows accusations from both Khartoum and N'djamena that the other side has been supporting insurgencies in its country.

Attacks by Chadian rebels on N'djamena in February preceded similar rebel assaults on Omdurman, near Khartoum, in May, leading to the escalation of tension between the two countries.

The fact-finding team met with the UN-AU mission in Darfur (<"http://unamid.unmissions.org/Default.aspx">UNAMID) in the context of AU efforts to normalize the relations between the two States after Sudan's announced it was cutting off ties with Chad, claiming that it has helped Darfurian rebels attack the Sudanese capital.

The fighting in the western Sudanese region of Darfur has significantly affected eastern Chad, where Sudanese civilians escaping the Darfur conflict comprise the majority of the estimated 315,000 refugees in that area.

"There is now an opportunity to move forward … It seems that there is a national consciousness that the Darfur issue has to be dealt with," Mr. Buyoya said in an interview UNAMID radio.

"UNMIS [UN Mission in Sudan] before and then UNAMID have done a lot to protect the Darfur people and to assist the peace process in Sudan," he added.

"The Government of Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations have reached a comprehensive agreement on the deployment of UNAMID."

UNAMID has been in place since January, but only about 10,000 military personnel have been deployed so far, well short of the roughly 26,000 troops, military observers and police officers expected when the operation reaches full deployment.
Nov 7 2008 6:10PM
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UN INITIATIVE FEATURES YOUNG PEOPLE’S IDEAS ON TACKLING RACISM THROUGH SPORTS

UN INITIATIVE FEATURES YOUNG PEOPLE'S IDEAS ON TACKLING RACISM THROUGH SPORTS
New York, Nov 7 2008 5:10PM
Using sportswear to transmit anti-racist messages and imposing penalties for teams whose players are involved in racist incidents are just some of the ideas proposed by young people as part of a United Nations project to counter prejudice in and through sports.

A total of 10 ideas were presented to the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday by representatives of "Youth Voices against Racism," an initiative of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43925&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO), FC Barcelona and the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR), in partnership with the European Parliament.

The list was the result of meetings held with young people between the ages of 15 and 18 in schools, sports clubs and youth councils in various European cities, as well as via local media and online forums, to elicit their ideas for ways to promote tolerance, mutual respect and solidarity through sport.

"It really is young people that carry the torch of this message and we wanted to invite them to become deciding agents in this question so that they can speak out to all levels of society," said UNESCO Deputy Director-General Marcio Barbosa.

Some of the other ideas include printing anti-racist slogans on containers of drinks sold in stadiums, including anti-racism and anti-discrimination clauses in professional sporting contracts; and using commercial items related to sport, such as sportswear, flags and rubber wristbands, to transmit anti-racist messages.

The young people also suggested establishing penalties for any teams whose players are responsible for racist incidents either before or after a match, as well as rewards for teams, clubs or cities with fans or players who demonstrate anti-racist attitudes.

"Youth Voices against Racism" is part of a wider partnership launched in November 2007 between FC Barcelona and UNESCO to promote the values of sport through education and awareness-raising.
Nov 7 2008 5:10PM
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UN PEACEKEEPERS HELP IN RESCUE EFFORT AFTER DEADLY SCHOOL COLLAPSE IN HAITI

UN PEACEKEEPERS HELP IN RESCUE EFFORT AFTER DEADLY SCHOOL COLLAPSE IN HAITI
New York, Nov 7 2008 5:10PM
United Nations peacekeepers are helping rescue workers dig through the rubble of a school building in Haiti after it collapsed this morning, killing at least 11 children and severely injuring dozens more.

The upper storey of the two-storey school collapsed during morning classes, crushing all of the classrooms on the ground level. So far, 75 children and teachers have been reported injured and evacuated to two local hospitals.

"UN blue helmets are on the scene clearing rubble and trying to help people buried under the debris," David Wimhurst, a spokesperson from the UN mission in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH, told the UN News Centre.

Frantic rescue efforts are under way but the scene of the accident is surrounded by thousands of people, including anxious family members of the hundreds of children who attend La Promesse School in Pétionville, an outlying suburb of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

The crowds are making it difficult for rescue workers to gain access to the site to dig out survivors and provide emergency care. The UN commander in Haiti, Maj. Gen. Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, had to park a kilometre away and walk through the amassed group to get to the school.

"If we can't get rescue equipment in and out it's going to be hard to help the people trapped in the building," said Mr. Wimhurst.

Peacekeepers are using ambulances to help clear a passage for rescue workers and to transport survivors to hospitals.

By mid-afternoon some 60 blue helmets – including military engineers from Brazil, Chile and Ecuador as well as military from the Philippines – that were helping with crowd control had also delivered 540 litres of water to people still buried in the rubble and survivors suffering from dehydration.

MINUSTAH had also provided three generators and three sets of industrial strength lighting to aid emergency rescue efforts through the night.

"This is a terrible tragedy for the families involved and the children but also for Pétionville itself, which is a huge metro area. It is also a tragedy for the international community because of the loss of life to children," said Mr. Wimhurst.
Nov 7 2008 5:10PM
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LOS ANGELES NEXT STOP ON BAN’S ONGOING TOUR OF UNITED STATES CITIES

LOS ANGELES NEXT STOP ON BAN'S ONGOING TOUR OF UNITED STATES CITIES
New York, Nov 7 2008 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon embarks on his first visit to the United States city of Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to meet with senior state and city Government officials and leaders in the entertainment industry, as well as address students and faculty at the University of California.

Los Angeles is the latest stop on Mr. Ban's tour of major US cities since taking office in January 2007, which also includes San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta.

Among those he will meet with next Thursday are California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa.

UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters that as part of the programme, Mr. Ban will reach out to Hollywood and meet with representatives and leaders from the creative community and the entertainment industry.

"These meetings aim to build partnerships to highlight issues of global concern and tell the UN story," she stated.

Mr. Ban embarked on a similar mission in June, when he travelled to Jackson, Wyoming, to open the inaugural Global Insight Summit convened by the UN and the Jackson Hole Film Institute.

That event brought UN officials together with entertainment leaders to explore how film and television can better be put to use to heighten awareness of key global issues and the world body's role in tackling them.

During his stay in California's largest city, the Secretary-General will also speak at the University of California Los Angeles, where he is to receive a UCLA medal in recognition of his contribution to world peace and security.

From Los Angeles, Mr. Ban will head to Washington D.C. to attend the meeting of the leaders of the so-called Group of 20 (G20) countries on the global financial crisis.
Nov 7 2008 3:10PM
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UN INDUSTRIAL AGENCY PARTNERS WITH CHINA TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

UN INDUSTRIAL AGENCY PARTNERS WITH CHINA TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Nov 7 2008 2:10PM
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has joined forces with China to address climate change by increasing clean energy projects under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and boosting the use of hydropower in Africa.

Under an agreement signed in Beijing yesterday by UNIDO Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella and Chen Huan, Deputy Director-General of the China CDM Fund Management Centre, the two bodies will implement schemes – including transitioning to a low-carbon economy and expanding the transfer of adoption and technology – over the next three years.

The CDM allows industrialized countries to generate credits through investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries.

Also yesterday, Mr. Yumkella entered into an agreement with Chinese and Sierra Leonean officials to build a small hydropower plant on the Bankasoka River in the West African nation, with construction slated to begin next month and be completed by the end of 2009.

The project hopes to pave the way for further trilateral cooperation under UNIDO's Lighting-up of Rural Africa initiative, which aims to reverse the lack of access, low purchasing power and over-dependence on traditional fuels currently characterizing the continent's energy situation.
Nov 7 2008 2:10PM
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HONDURAS: UN APPEALS FOR GREATER AID AS FLOODS CAUSE FURTHER DEATHS AND DAMAGE

HONDURAS: UN APPEALS FOR GREATER AID AS FLOODS CAUSE FURTHER DEATHS AND DAMAGE
New York, Nov 7 2008 2:10PM
United Nations aid agencies are stepping up their relief efforts and appeals for funding in Honduras, where a persistent tropical storm has intensified in recent days and spread to new areas of the Central American country.

At least 60 Hondurans have now died as a result of Tropical Storm Paloma, and the number of people affected by the flooding has risen this week by about 50,000 to nearly 320,000, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

Paloma first struck the region as a tropical depression in mid-October, causing floods and destruction in neighbouring Guatemala as well. But in recent days Paloma has intensified into a bigger storm and struck different parts of the country with torrential rainfall.

Less than 10 per cent of the $17 million flash appeal launched last week by UN agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners has been received so far, and the amount received includes $1.5 million allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

OCHA called on donors to immediately increase their support, warning that urgent assistance is needed to avert a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Honduras was the nation worst affected when the catastrophic Hurricane Mitch swept across Central America in late 1998, with an estimated 7,000 people killed and some $3.8 billion in damage to infrastructure, agriculture and homes.

The country's capacity to cope with natural disasters remains compromised, particularly since Honduras has been struck by at least 27 separate disasters in the decade since Mitch. This year's hurricane season in the region has also not yet ended.

OCHA reported that shelter, food, safe drinking water and basic sanitation are priorities for Honduran authorities and UN aid agencies. The rehabilitation of houses and agricultural land is also considered critical, while the contamination of wells means public health has become a major concern.

Some 100,000 people, including 35,000 children, do not have access to safe drinking water, and 51,000 children are not attending classes because their schools are being used as shelters for the homeless. In Guatemala, an estimated 150,000 people are in need of support as well.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has so far delivered more than 370 tons of food aid to about 16,000 vulnerable families, while the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has spent over $700,000 in its initial support to local authorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilized emergency medical teams and purchased large amounts of medicines to assist the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in its relief efforts.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is spending $110,000 on emergency activities regarding reproductive health, while OCHA and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have also allocated cash grants.
Nov 7 2008 2:10PM
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NEW GLOSSARY IN SIERRA LEONE’S MAJOR LANGUAGES ISSUED BY UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL

NEW GLOSSARY IN SIERRA LEONE'S MAJOR LANGUAGES ISSUED BY UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL
New York, Nov 7 2008 1:10PM
The top official of the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) has launched the first-ever glossary of national legal terminology in the West African nation's four major local languages.

"When people are charged before a court, they have the right to hear the case against them in a language they understand," Herman von Hebel said at a ceremony yesterday presided over by the country's Acting Chief Justice, Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh. "This glossary will contribute significantly in making this possible."

The "Integrated Glossary of Legal Terminology: Krio, Limba, Mende, Themne" was compiled by the Court's Language Unit and draws upon the experience of its interpreters.

Mr. von Hebel underscored that the new publication seeks to bolster Sierra Leone's judicial system and voiced hope that it will be part of the SCSL's legacy.

"We believe that the ability for a court to communicate legal terminology to those who come before it in terms they understand is crucial [for] the accessibility of justice and the right to a fair trial."

The Court, established in January 2002 by an agreement between the Sierra Leonean Government and the UN, is mandated to try "those who bear greatest responsibility" for war crimes and crimes against community committed in the country after 30 November 1996.

The SCSL's trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone is currently under way in The Hague.
Nov 7 2008 1:10PM
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UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS OVERWHELMED, TOP OFFICIALS WARN ON ANNIVERSARY

UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS OVERWHELMED, TOP OFFICIALS WARN ON ANNIVERSARY
New York, Nov 7 2008 1:10PM
The bitter reality of conflicts in many countries dwarfs the ability of United Nations peacekeeping efforts to halt warring factions and maintain security despite their best intentions, General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/63/news/news.asp?NewsID=28852&Cr=&Cr1=">said today.

Each of the 20 UN missions around the world, with more than 110,000 personnel collectively, faces a task of unprecedented scale and complexity with inadequate resources, Mr. D'Escoto told the General Assembly at a meeting commemorating the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping operations.

"The current annual budget for United Nations peacekeeping is approximately $5.6 billion, which represents one half of 1 per cent of global military spending," noted Mr. D'Escoto.

"This mad asymmetry dooms our best intentions," he added.

The Assembly President highlighted the current crisis in the war-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an example of the difficult responsibility UN blue helmets tackle.

He pointed out that the UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC, known as MONUC, has one peacekeeper for every 10,000 civilians in a conflict zone which has witnessed violence against civilians and a terrifying campaign of sexual attacks against girls and women that may be unprecedented in its scale and brutality.

"The General Assembly has the responsibility to ensure that operations are equipped with the tools needed to fulfil their mandates," said Mr. D'Escoto. "But almost without exception, they are still being sent into harm's way with insufficient resources at their command."

The President recommended that troop-contributing countries become more involved in shaping peacekeeping mandates and "determining resources required to minimize the risk and maximize the chances of success of the operations their troops are committed to."

Peacekeeping has evolved over the last 60 years from its first mission in the Middle East – observing an uneasy cease-fire between the new State of Israel and its neighbours – to become one of the cornerstones of international diplomacy, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the gathering.

"The presence of peacekeepers sends a powerful signal that Member States of the United Nations are working together for solutions in the best spirit of the Organization's Charter," <"http://www.un.org/apps/dsg/dsgstats.asp?nid=141">said Ms. Migiro.

She noted that missions have progressed beyond monitoring ceasefires to receive wide-ranging mandates that include helping post-conflict societies rebuild, nurturing democratic governance, protecting civilians, disarming ex-combatants, supervising elections and strengthening institutions.

"The evolution of peacekeeping has not come without cost," she said. "We have seen that peacekeeping will not succeed in building true security if there is no peace to keep."

Ms. Migiro stressed that if there is no political process in place, "we cannot and should not fight a war."

Peacekeepers operate in some of the most austere and challenging environments to protect people at risk, with limited resources and a tiny fraction of global military spending, she told the gathering, underscoring Mr. D'Escoto's message.

"Peacekeepers need our support. They need clear and achievable mandates. They need the political will and material resources of our Member States," said Ms. Migiro while asking the Assembly to be proud of what has been accomplished and pay tribute to the more than 2,500 peacekeepers and personnel who have lost their lives serving the UN.

"Now more than ever, the world needs the blue helmets, and the blue helmets need the world's support."
Nov 7 2008 1:10PM
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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND APPROVES PACKAGE OF NEARLY $16 BILLION TO HELP HUNGARY

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND APPROVES PACKAGE OF NEARLY $16 BILLION TO HELP HUNGARY
New York, Nov 7 2008 12:10PM
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a standby arrangement for Hungary worth nearly $16 billion to help the Central European country stave off a deepening of its economic troubles amid the global financial crisis.

The IMF Executive Board approved the request yesterday under its fast-track Emergency Financing Mechanism, and about $6.3 billion will be immediately given out as part of the agreement, which covers the next 17 months.

The Hungarian economy has come under particular stress in recent weeks as a result of the global financial crisis, with the country's high debt levels, falling stock market and depreciating currency combining to add pressure to its financial system.

The standby arrangement is designed to support the economic programme devised by Hungarian authorities, which includes a substantial fiscal adjustment to ensure the Government's debt financing needs decline, strong levels of capitals in the local banking system, and the maintenance of adequate liquidity in those banks.

John Lipsky, First Deputy Managing Director at the IMF, said he was confident that Hungary can weather its current difficulties by consistently implementing its programme and receiving continued support from the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union.

The measures proposed in the Hungarian programme tackle the country's "most important vulnerabilities and should therefore underpin an improvement in investor confidence," Mr. Lipsky <"http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2008/CAR110608A.htm">said.

"Most important, the combination of accelerated fiscal adjustment and the introduction of a rules-based fiscal framework will help persuade investors that the Government's short- and medium-term financing needs are being addressed."
Nov 7 2008 12:10PM
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BAN CALLS FOR URGENT MEASURES TO END DR CONGO CRISIS AT NAIROBI SUMMIT

BAN CALLS FOR URGENT MEASURES TO END DR CONGO CRISIS AT NAIROBI SUMMIT
New York, Nov 7 2008 11:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3523">called for urgent measures to contain the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), stressing to a United Nations-backed summit in Nairobi that neither the vast African nation nor the surrounding region can risk a return to conflict.

Fighting in the province of North Kivu between Government forces (FARDC) and the National Congress in Defence of the People (known as the CNDP), a militia led by former general Laurent Nkunda, has displaced as many as 253,000 Congolese in recent months.

Today's summit, hosted by the African Union (AU), brings together DRC President Joseph Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, which borders North Kivu, as well as the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa.

"Before anything else, we must take urgent measures to contain the present crisis created by the upsurge of fighting in eastern DRC," Mr. Ban told the leaders.

"Neither the DRC, nor Rwanda, nor the rest of the central Africa region can afford to be dragged back into conflict. The international community cannot allow this to occur."

Mr. Ban, in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11907.doc.htm">statement issued yesterday, had voiced deep concern at fresh fighting in North Kivu and urged all armed groups to get behind efforts to broker a political solution to the current crisis.

At today's meeting, he stressed the need to deal with the "armed group challenge," pointing out that the grave consequences of foreign armed groups in the DRC are felt not only by the Congolese people, but they also continue to weigh heavily across region.

"For far too long, peace and security in your region has been threatened by armed groups, domestic and foreign, present on the soil of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have been operating from there with impunity, aggravating strains between your countries and between your peoples."

In seeking a political solution, the Secretary-General said that "our urgent task is to turn the Nairobi and Goma principles into concrete steps on the ground," referring to previous agreements which provided for a ceasefire, the disengagement of troops and the disarmament of armed groups.

"We need to end the conflict in the east, and prevent it from spilling over into the wider sub-region. We need to restore the authority of the State, and consolidate the stability that has been achieved in the rest of the country," he added.

"As leaders of Africa, you have a historic responsibility – this is a critical moment for the Great Lakes region, and for Africa as a whole. We must put the cycle of violence behind us. We must build a shared future of stability, peace, development and human rights for all citizens of your countries," Mr. Ban stated.

Even as the leaders gathered in the Kenyan capital for today's talks, there are reports of fresh fighting in eastern DRC.

The UN refugee agency (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/49145a914.html">UNHCR) in the North Kivu capital of Goma reported that shooting erupted this morning in the vicinity of camps in Kibati housing internally displaced persons (IDPs), interrupting the ongoing distribution of aid and causing panic among the camp population.

UNHCR staff said the shooting stopped after about 30 minutes, but IDPs from the camp continued to move toward Goma, to the south.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the total number of new IDPs or persons who were already displaced and had to flee again in North Kivu after September was estimated to be around 253,000 persons. This is in addition to the existing 800,000 IDPs from previous hostilities.
Nov 7 2008 11:10AM
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UN URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION TO TACKLE ‘ALARMING’ LEVELS OF CHILD MALNUTRITION IN CHAD

UN URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION TO TACKLE 'ALARMING' LEVELS OF CHILD MALNUTRITION IN CHAD
New York, Nov 7 2008 10:10AM
The United Nations has called for urgent action after a new survey found "alarming" levels of malnutrition among children under five in the western part of Chad, a country that is grappling with humanitarian crises on several fronts.

The survey released yesterday, conducted under the leadership of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Action Contre la Faim, found that one in five children in that age group suffer from global acute malnutrition.

"These results are alarming," <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SHIG-7L6GU7?OpenDocument">said Kingsley Amaning, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Chad. "While the causes for such high rates of malnutrition may be of a chronic nature, it is clear that a humanitarian response is needed, and this is therefore an urgent humanitarian problem that we need to address."

The survey also found that the rate of severe acute malnutrition among children under five is 2.8 per cent. In addition, three children under five die every day, for every 10,000.

"The data indicate a critical threshold of malnutrition, and we need to urgently plan activities to prevent excess mortality and morbidity caused by possible outbreaks," said Marzio Babille, Representative of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Chad.

"This requires a concerted effort together with the Government of Chad to immunise children against measles, provide vitamin A supplements, and deliver quality care for children with severe under-nutrition," he added.

The poor, landlocked African nation is trying to deal with a number of ongoing humanitarian crises. Eastern Chad currently shelters 315,000 refugees – the majority being Sudanese escaping from the conflict in Darfur – and 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), all of whom depend on aid to survive.

There are also some 57,000 Central African refugees in the south of the country.
Nov 7 2008 10:10AM
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FIVE JUDGES ELECTED TO SERVE ON UN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

FIVE JUDGES ELECTED TO SERVE ON UN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
New York, Nov 6 2008 7:10PM
The General Assembly and the Security Council today elected five judges to serve nine-year terms on the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, starting early next year.

After simultaneous but separate <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9494.doc.htm">meetings throughout the day at UN Headquarters in New York, the Council and the Assembly re-elected two judges whose terms were due to expire and chose three new judges to serve on the ICJ, which is based in The Hague and is also known as the World Court.

Candidates needed to obtain an absolute majority of votes in the General Assembly (97) and in the Security Council (eight) to be elected to the <"http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?lang=en">ICJ. Judges serve for nine-year terms and can be re-elected, and no two of the 15 judges who serve on the court can be from the same country.

Ronny Abraham of France and Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, whose terms had been due to expire on 5 February 2009, were re-elected after receiving a majority in the first round of voting in both the Assembly and the Council.

Christopher Greenwood of the United Kingdom and Brazil's Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade were also elected in the first round in both the Assembly and the Council, and will begin their terms on 6 February next year.

After several subsequent rounds of voting, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia was also elected, while the declared candidates Sayeman Bula-Bula (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (Philippines) and Maurice Kamto (Cameroon) were unsuccessful.

The three new judges replace Rosalyn Higgins of the United Kingdom (who currently serves as ICJ President), Gonzalo Parra-Aranguren of Venezuela and Madagascar's Raymond Ranjeva, whose terms all expire on 5 February.

The other current members are: Shi Jiuyong (China), Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leone), Thomas Buergenthal (United States), Hisashi Owada (Japan), Bruno Simma (Germany), Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Kenneth Keith (New Zealand), Bernardo Sepúlveda-Amor (Mexico), Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco) and Leonid Skotnikov (Russia). Their terms in office expire in either 2012 or 2015.

Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the ICJ settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by authorized UN organs or specialized agencies.
Nov 6 2008 7:10PM
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WOMEN’S SPORTS PIONEER BILLIE JEAN KING BECOMES GENDER EQUALITY MENTOR FOR UNESCO

WOMEN'S SPORTS PIONEER BILLIE JEAN KING BECOMES GENDER EQUALITY MENTOR FOR UNESCO
New York, Nov 6 2008 6:10PM
The women's sports pioneer and former Grand Slam tennis champion Billie Jean King was appointed today as a Global Mentor for Gender Equality by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Ms. King was named to the post at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, where the Sony Ericsson-sponsored Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is currently holding its year-end championships. <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43923&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO and the WTA already have a formal partnership in place to try to promote women's leadership.

As part of the appointment, the Billie Jean King Leadership Internship programme will be set up to give young women experience in the sports industry through internships at the Women's Sports Foundation and then job placement opportunities in the sports business.

In a statement issued today by UNESCO, Ms. King called the partnership "a strong step" in efforts to improve gender equity issues in sports.

"There is so much work still to be done when it comes to breaking down barriers to opportunity for women and girls throughout the world, and one of the most effective things we can do is combine our resources, energies and expertise," she said.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura released a video message in which he said Ms. King had been chosen "in recognition of her tremendous career, which has inspired millions and changed the lives of young women across the world."

Aside from the 12 Grand Slam singles titles she won between 1966 and 1975, Ms. King has been a vocal advocate against sexism in sports. She also founded the WTA and the Women's Sports Foundation.

The UNESCO-WTA partnership, launched in 2006, already funds projects in Cameroon, China, the Dominican Republic, Jordan and Liberia aimed at improving the leadership capabilities and opportunities for women and girls.
Nov 6 2008 6:10PM
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RENEWED FIGHTING IN EASTERN DR CONGO ALARMS SECRETARY-GENERAL

RENEWED FIGHTING IN EASTERN DR CONGO ALARMS SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Nov 6 2008 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern at fresh fighting in the violence-wracked North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urged all armed groups to get behind efforts to broker a political solution to the current crisis in the region.

Fighting broke out two days ago in the Rutshuru area between the National Congress in Defence of the People (known as the CNDP), a militia led by former general Laurent Nkunda, and a mixed group of Coalition of Patriots in the Congolese Resistance (PARECO)/Mayi-Mayi militia.

The CNDP has also reportedly attacked Congolese military positions in the Nyanzale area this morning, despite the ceasefire announced by the militia last week. Fighting was also under way in Miyanzali, a town now entirely under rebel control, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (known as MONUC).

"The Secretary-General calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of forces to positions held prior to the resumption of fighting on 28 August," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement, referring to the start of the latest broad wave of violence that has displaced as many as 250,000 Congolese in the far east of the impoverished country.

The statement added that Mr. Ban "urges the armed groups involved in the ongoing fighting to support the current efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC and to avoid activities that result in the further displacement and suffering of the civilian population."

The Secretary-General is travelling today to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend a United Nations-backed high-level summit tomorrow aimed at ending the crisis.

He is scheduled to meet with DRC President Joseph Kabila and with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, which borders North Kivu. The leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa are also slated to attend the summit, which is being hosted by the African Union.

MONUC reported today that CNDP fighters have captured Nyanzale and Kikuku villages and are actively seeking new territory in violation of the ceasefire it declared last week.

UN aid officials are identifying some of the massive population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at camps and spontaneous sites across North Kivu. All schools in the combat zone have closed, and some are now reportedly occupied by IDPs.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up its relief efforts across both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where some 2.5 million Congolese need assistance.

The agency reported that it has taken receipt of 10 tons of medicines, which are expected to benefit at least 60,000 people in North Kivu for a month. Norway has supplied 30 tons of drugs as well, while Italy has increased its supply of medicines and other health supplies.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food in six IDP camps in Kibati and elsewhere, which are home to an estimated 135,000 people.

Meanwhile, in nearby Orientale province, which borders Uganda and southern Sudan, the entire population of the town of Dungu – or about 57,000 regular residents, as well as 6,000 IDPs – has fled due to attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) last weekend. Aid workers have also evacuated Dungu, and access to the town is restricted because of insecurity on the local roads and poor infrastructure.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a vast area of about 10,000 square kilometres, stretching from the western edge of Garamba National Park to the border with Sudan, has now been depopulated because of recent LRA attacks.

The LRA, which has fought Ugandan Government forces since the mid-1980s, is notorious for its use of child soldiers and its brutal attacks against civilians. Its fighters move frequently across the porous border between northern Uganda, southern Sudan and the north-eastern DRC.
Nov 6 2008 6:10PM
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UN ORGANIZES CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN CONTESTED SUDANESE AREA

UN ORGANIZES CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN CONTESTED SUDANESE AREA
New York, Nov 6 2008 5:10PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission set up to help implement the peace accord that ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan has organized conflict management training for joint police units and military battalions in an area beset by conflict earlier this year.

A Zambian contingent with the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmis/">UNMIS) facilitated the five-day training course in Abyei for members of the local joint integrated unit (JIU) and joint integrated police unit (JIPU), the mission said in a press release issued today. Members of the national security and civil administration also participated.

Conducted on mission premises in Abyei and concluded earlier this week, the course was sponsored by the United Kingdom and focused on such conflict management skills as analysis, listening and negotiating.

The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ending the civil war called for the establishment of JIUs and JIPUs to integrate members of the Sudanese military and the former southern rebels known as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

But deadly fighting between the two sides broke out in May in Abyei, an oil-rich area in central Sudan whose status was not fully resolved under the CPA, leading to a peace agreement the following month aimed at restoring stability to the region and spurring civilians who had fled as a result of the violence to start to return.
Nov 6 2008 5:10PM
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PAKISTAN: UN DELIVERS FOOD TO 20,000 QUAKE VICTIMS

PAKISTAN: UN DELIVERS FOOD TO 20,000 QUAKE VICTIMS
New York, Nov 6 2008 5:10PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food for up to 20,000 survivors of the deadly earthquake that struck Pakistan's southwest Baluchistan province late last month.

In the hardest-hit district of Ziarat, the agency is delivering fortified ready-to-eat biscuits.

Additionally, <"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP is supplying almost 400 tons of wheat flour, beans, vegetable oil and salt, as a one-month ration, for 20,000 people in Ziarat and neighbouring Pishin district.

Almost 200 people have died, with hundreds more injured, in the 6.4 magnitude quake, whose epicentre was located in a mountainous area northeast of Quetta, the provincial capital of Baluchistan.

UN agencies have carried out assessments to determine the humanitarian response, with six teams having visited dozens of villages over the past several days to analyze the impact of the strong tremors on the already poor and vulnerable population.

Temperatures in the high-altitude region are already very low and expected to drop even more with the approach of winter. The missions found that winterized tents, blankets, warm clothing, food, health services and restoration of drinking water are the main priorities.

The Pakistani military has set up camps in Ziarat, which are currently being used as storage depots, with four additional camps proposed in the district.
Nov 6 2008 5:10PM
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UNICEF AMBASSADOR VOICES CONCERN FOR CENTRAL AFRICANS ON LACK OF CLEAN WATER

UNICEF AMBASSADOR VOICES CONCERN FOR CENTRAL AFRICANS ON LACK OF CLEAN WATER
New York, Nov 6 2008 4:10PM
The United States rock singer and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador Joel Madden has voiced concern for the thousands of children in the Central African Republic (CAR) whose lives are threatened by tainted water diseases after completing his first visit to the impoverished, strife-torn country.

"To come here and see these children dying just because they don't have clean water to drink, I can't accept that," Mr. Madden said after his first mission as a <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Touring the country with his brother Benji, a fellow member of the band Good Charlotte, Mr. Madden's trip included visits to the capital Bangui, as well as some of the remotest villages of CAR.

Visiting Sam Ouandja, a town near the border with Sudan's Darfur region that has been attacked by rebels twice in the last year, Mr. Madden learned of the plight of the local children in a town where nearly 50 per cent die each year due to water tainted diseases.

"Without access every day to clean water sustainable development is impossible; returning to villages for displaced people is just a dream," said Mahimbo Mdoe, a UNICEF official in the CAR. "We are facing a huge infrastructure deficit and we are struggling to get more and more support."

CAR suffers from one of the worst child mortality rates in Africa, with one in five children not living to see their fifth birthday. The maternal mortality rate has also reached 1,355 per 100,000 mothers and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS – estimated at 6.2 per cent of population – continues to wreak havoc as well.

UNICEF has made continued efforts to provide safe drinking water in CAR, with the UN agency last year supporting water projects, including the repair and drilling of hundreds of wells for people living in conflict-affected areas. Through such programmes, all prefectures affected by violence in the north of the country now have access to UNICEF-sponsored water, sanitation and hygiene schemes.

With many gaps still remaining in access to safe drinking water, Mr. Madden called on the CAR Government to spend more on water. He also issued a plea to leaders of developed nations to become more active in helping fund solutions to prevent deaths.

"Every day children in CAR are dying from preventable diseases caused by a lack of safe water," said Mr. Madden. "The good news is that we can stop this now."
Nov 6 2008 4:10PM
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SENIOR UN-AU ENVOY BRIEFS TEAM SEEKING TO DEFUSE TENSIONS BETWEEN SUDAN AND CHAD

SENIOR UN-AU ENVOY BRIEFS TEAM SEEKING TO DEFUSE TENSIONS BETWEEN SUDAN AND CHAD
New York, Nov 6 2008 4:10PM
The senior United Nations-African Union envoy Henry Anyidoho met today with an AU fact-finding team that is visiting Darfur as part of a bid to defuse escalating tensions between Sudan and neighbouring Chad.

Mr. Anyidoho, the UN-AU Principal Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, briefed the team, led by former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya, on their arrival in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state and the headquarters of the AU-UN hybrid operation in Darfur (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html">UNAMID).

The delegation was informed about the latest political, security, military, police, humanitarian and human rights developments in Darfur, where up to 300,000 people are thought to have died and at least 2.7 million displaced from their homes due to fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen since 2003.

The conflict in the western Sudanese region has spilled over into eastern Chad, where Sudanese escaping the Darfur conflict comprise the majority of the estimated 315,000 refugees in that area.

The AU fact-finding team was set up in the context of AU efforts to normalize the relations between Khartoum and N'djamena, following Sudan's announcement in May that it was cutting off ties with Chad, claiming that it has helped Darfurian rebels attack the Sudanese capital.

The team also paid a courtesy call on the wali, or governor, of North Darfur, before travelling to El Geneina in West Darfur and then to Khartoum.

Meanwhile, UNAMID reports that the security situation in its area of responsibility is relatively calm.

However, banditry and rape are still prevalent, and UNAMID forces are working closely with Sudanese police and rebel factions to combat the situation.

The hybrid force has been in place since January, succeeding an earlier, under-resourced AU operation. But only about 10,000 military personnel have been deployed so far, well short of the roughly 26,000 troops, military observers and police officers expected when UNAMID reaches full deployment.
Nov 6 2008 4:10PM
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UN HEALTH AGENCY WELCOMES BAN ON SMOKING AT WORLD BODY’S NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS

UN HEALTH AGENCY WELCOMES BAN ON SMOKING AT WORLD BODY'S NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS
New York, Nov 6 2008 3:10PM
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today welcomed a General Assembly resolution to ban smoking and tobaccos sales at the world body's headquarters in New York, saying the decision will protect the health of delegates, employees and visitors.

That resolution, passed on Monday, notes the harmful impact of second-hand smoke, which can lead to disease, disability and death.

It called for a ban on indoor smoking and the sale of tobacco products at Headquarters, and also recommended a similar prohibition at all UN premises, including regional and country offices.

According to a <"http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/en/index.html">WHO report released in February, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death, claiming more than 5 million lives annually through lung cancer and heart disease, among other ailments.

The study also stressed that there is no safe level of second-hand smoke.

"By banning smoking and the sale of tobacco products on UN premises, the Member States set a tremendous example," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
Nov 6 2008 3:10PM
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UN’S FINANCES ‘FRAGILE’ WITH ONLY 31 STATES HAVING PAID THEIR 2008 DUES IN FULL – BAN

UN'S FINANCES 'FRAGILE' WITH ONLY 31 STATES HAVING PAID THEIR 2008 DUES IN FULL – BAN
New York, Nov 6 2008 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Member States to meet their financial obligations to the United Nations for 2008 in full and on time, warning of possible cash shortfalls if assessed contributions are not paid up in the remaining two months of this year.

"The financial position of the UN remains fragile," Mr. Ban writes in his latest report to the General Assembly, which reviews the world body's financial situation as at 24 October.

Funding for the UN budget, which is approved on a biennium basis, is derived from contributions from Member States. Their assessments are assessed based on a number of factors, including per capita incomes. The UN's regular budget for the biennium 2008-2009 is nearly $4.2 billion.

In addition to the regular budget, Member States are assessed for the costs of the UN international tribunals, peacekeeping, and the five-year, $1.9 billion renovation of the Organization's New York Headquarters, known as the Capital Master Plan (CMP).

"The financial indicators for 2008 are mixed," says the Secretary-General, referring to the four main factors that determine the UN's financial strength – assessments issued; unpaid assessed contributions; available cash resources; and the UN's outstanding debt to Member States.

"The position of the regular budget is uncertain given the current and projected cash situation, and the final outcome for 2008 will depend on action to be taken in the next few months by a few Member States."

As of 24 October, 133 Member States had paid their assessments to the UN regular budget in full, seven more than on 31 October last year.

Of the $756 million that remained outstanding at 24 October for the regular budget, 94 per cent was owed by a single Member State and 6 per cent by the remaining Member States. "Clearly, the final picture for 2008 will largely depend on the action taken by those countries in the coming few weeks," Mr. Ban says.

The total amount outstanding for peacekeeping operations at 24 October is over $2.9 billion, approximately $198 million higher than at the end of 2007, but $575 million below the level at 31 October last year.

As with the regular budget, the $2.9 billion in unpaid assessments is "highly concentrated," according to the report, with over half of the total, 62 per cent, from just two Member States, and another 21 per cent from four others.

Cash balances at the end of 2008 are projected to be higher than at the end of 2007 for the tribunals and the CMP, but lower for the regular budget and peacekeeping operations. "Further borrowing may be required from reserve accounts for the regular budget," says Mr. Ban.

The <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/514">report adds that amounts owed to troop and equipment providers at 31 December are expected to be significantly lower than earlier projections, and some $134 million below the amount owed at 31 December last year.

"While payments of troop and equipment obligations were broadly current for a number of missions, cash shortfalls mean that reimbursements have fallen behind the normal quarterly reimbursement process for four missions," Mr. Ban notes.

These are the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

The Secretary-General states that while the financial situation is expected to show some improvement by the end of 2008, "this is very much dependent on receipt of significant payments by the end of the year from a few Member States."

Mr. Ban also pays tribute to the 31 Member States that had paid in full all assessments for the regular budget, the international tribunals, the peacekeeping operations and the CMP that were due and payable as at 24 October.

They are Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, the Philippines, Moldova, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

The Secretary-General encouraged other States to follow their example. "In order to maintain the financial health of the Organization, it remains as critical as ever for Member States to meet their financial obligations to the United Nations in full and on time," he stressed.
Nov 6 2008 3:10PM
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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGREES TO PROVIDE $16 BILLION TO ASSIST UKRAINE

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGREES TO PROVIDE $16 BILLION TO ASSIST UKRAINE
New York, Nov 6 2008 2:10PM
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a two-year standby arrangement for Ukraine worth more than $16 billion to help the Eastern European country's authorities restore economic stability in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The <"http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2008/pr08271.htm">IMF Executive Board approved the request yesterday under its Emergency Financing Mechanism, and about $4.5 billion will be immediately given to Ukraine as part of the agreement.

The Ukrainian economy has deteriorated as prices have fallen for steel, the country's major export. High rates of inflation and low foreign exchange reserves are exacerbating the situation and local banks are also experiencing considerable stress.

In an effort to stabilize the domestic financial system, Ukrainian authorities have devised a plan involving monetary and exchange rate policy shifts, banking recapitalization and fiscal and incomes policy adjustments, the IMF said in a press release.

IMF Deputy Executive Director Murilo Portugal issued a statement describing Ukraine's plan as "strong and comprehensive" given the gravity of the global financial situation.

"Decisive measures have already been implemented by the authorities, including the passage of anti-crisis legislation," he said. "Moreover, the authorities' policy framework is sufficiently robust to adapt to evolving circumstances.

"The commitment of leaders of the main political parties to the core elements of the programme increases the prospects for successful programme implementation. All these elements give confidence that the programme will succeed in stabilizing economic and financial conditions."
Nov 6 2008 2:10PM
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RENEWED FIGHTING IN EASTERN DR CONGO ALARMS SECRETARY-GENERAL

RENEWED FIGHTING IN EASTERN DR CONGO ALARMS SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Nov 6 2008 2:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern at fresh fighting in the violence-wracked North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urged all armed groups to get behind efforts to broker a political solution to the current crisis in the region.

Fighting broke out two days ago in the Rutshuru area between the National Congress in Defence of the People (known as the CNDP), a militia led by former general Laurent Nkunda, and a mixed group of Coalition of Patriots in the Congolese Resistance (PARECO)/Mayi-Mayi militia.

The CNDP has also reportedly attacked Congolese military positions in the Nyanzale area this morning, despite the ceasefire announced by the militia last week.

"The Secretary-General calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of forces to positions held prior to the resumption of fighting on 28 August," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3522">statement, referring to the start of the latest broad wave of violence that has displaced as many as 250,000 Congolese in the far east of the impoverished country.

The statement added that Mr. Ban "urges the armed groups involved in the ongoing fighting to support the current efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC and to avoid activities that result in the further displacement and suffering of the civilian population."

The Secretary-General is travelling today to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend a United Nations-backed high-level summit tomorrow aimed at ending the crisis.

He is scheduled to meet with DRC President Joseph Kabila and with Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, which borders North Kivu. The leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa are also slated to attend the summit, which is being hosted by the African Union.

<B><I>MORE TO FOLLOW</I></B>
Nov 6 2008 2:10PM
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TOP UN OFFICIALS TO ATTEND UPCOMING WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

TOP UN OFFICIALS TO ATTEND UPCOMING WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
New York, Nov 6 2008 1:10PM
Senior United Nations officials will be among the 700 global executives, economists and other experts attending the World Economic Forum that kicks off tomorrow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In his address to the gathering, Lennart Båge, President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is expected to spotlight the importance of helping the world's 450 million smallholder farms, which support more than 2 billion people in developing countries.

He will also stress the need for farmers to boost their output to meet demand and counterbalance the rise in food prices.

Founded in 1971, the World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Participants at the three-day gathering in Dubai are expected to discuss the need to boost agricultural investment, water scarcity and youth unemployment in rural areas of the Near East and North Africa.

While in the UAE, Mr. Båge will meet with the Persian Gulf nation's top officials, as well as briefing on several IFAD-backed research programmes in the region, including the Regional Centre for Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Doha, Qatar.
Nov 6 2008 1:10PM
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ON INTERNATIONAL DAY, BAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT IN TIMES OF CONFLICT

ON INTERNATIONAL DAY, BAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT IN TIMES OF CONFLICT
New York, Nov 6 2008 12:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for preventing the exploitation of the environment in times of conflict, stressing that protecting nature can help countries create employment opportunities, promote development and avoid a relapse into hostilities.

In his message on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, which is observed on 6 November, Mr. Ban said that the UN is studying the environmental impacts of conflicts around the world, from the Balkans to Afghanistan, from Lebanon to the Sudan.

"We have seen how environmental damage and the collapse of institutions are threatening human health, livelihoods and security," he stated. "These risks can also jeopardize fragile peace and development in post-conflict societies."

The Secretary-General noted that in Afghanistan, warfare and institutional disintegration have combined to take a major toll. In a clear case of environmentally induced displacement, tens of thousands of people have been forced from rural to urban areas in search of food and employment.

"There can be no durable peace in Afghanistan if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed," he stressed.

At the same time, the environment and natural resources are crucial in consolidating peace within and between war-torn societies, Mr. Ban added, noting that several countries in the Great Lakes Region of Africa established transboundary cooperation to manage their shared natural resources.

"The United Nations attaches great importance to ensuring that action on the environment is part of our approach to peace," Mr. Ban stressed. "Protecting the environment can help countries create employment opportunities, promote development and avoid a relapse into armed conflict.

"Let us renew our commitment to preventing the exploitation of the environment in times of conflict, and to protecting the environment as a pillar of our work for peace."
Nov 6 2008 12:10PM
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FINANCIAL CRISIS LIKELY TO KEEP FOOD PRICES HIGH DESPITE RECORD CEREAL CROP – UN

FINANCIAL CRISIS LIKELY TO KEEP FOOD PRICES HIGH DESPITE RECORD CEREAL CROP – UN
New York, Nov 6 2008 10:10AM
Even though global cereal production is expected to hit a new record this year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is cautioning that the impact of the current financial crisis on the agricultural sector could mean a surge in food prices in the coming year.

In its bi-annual "Food Outlook," FAO <"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/8271/icode/">noted that much of the boost in cereal production took place in developed countries, where farmers were in a better position to respond to high prices.

Developing countries, on the other hand, were largely limited in their capacity to respond to high prices by supply side constraints on their agricultural sectors.

Concepcion Calpe, one of the main authors of the report, said this year's record cereal harvest and the recent fall in food prices should not create a false sense of security.

"For example, if the current price volatility and liquidity conditions prevail in 2008/09, plantings and output could be affected to such an extent that a new price surge might take place in 2009/10, unleashing even more severe food crises than those experienced recently," she said.

"The financial crisis of the last few months has amplified downward price movements, contributed to tighten credit markets, and introduced greater uncertainty about next year's prospects, so that many producers are adopting very conservative planting decisions."

FAO pointed out that the surge in food prices over the past year has increased the number of undernourished people in the world to an estimated 923 million, and this number could grow.

"There is a real risk that as a consequence of the current world economic problems people will have to reduce their food intake and the number of hungry could rise further," said Ms. Calpe.

To feed a world population of more than nine billion people by 2050 (around six billion today), global food production must nearly double, according to FAO. This requires addressing a number of challenges related to agriculture, including land and water constraints, low investments in rural infrastructure and agricultural research, expensive agricultural inputs, and little adaptation to climate change.

It also requires more investments in agriculture, machinery, tractors and water pumps, as well as more skilled and better-trained farmers and more efficient supply chains.
Nov 6 2008 10:10AM
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ON INTERNATIONAL DAY, BAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT IN TIMES OF CONFLICT

ON INTERNATIONAL DAY, BAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT IN TIMES OF CONFLICT
New York, Nov 6 2008 10:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for preventing the exploitation of the environment in times of conflict, stressing that protecting nature can help countries create employment opportunities, promote development and avoid a relapse into hostilities.

In his message on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, which is observed on 6 November, Mr. Ban said that the UN is studying the environmental impacts of conflicts around the world, from the Balkans to Afghanistan, from Lebanon to the Sudan.

"We have seen how environmental damage and the collapse of institutions are threatening human health, livelihoods and security," he stated. "These risks can also jeopardize fragile peace and development in post-conflict societies."

The Secretary-General noted that in Afghanistan, warfare and institutional disintegration have combined to take a major toll. In a clear case of environmentally induced displacement, tens of thousands of people have been forced from rural to urban areas in search of food and employment.

"There can be no durable peace in Afghanistan if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed," he stressed.

At the same time, the environment and natural resources are crucial in consolidating peace within and between war-torn societies, Mr. Ban added, noting that several countries in the Great Lakes Region of Africa established transboundary cooperation to manage their shared natural resources.

"The United Nations attaches great importance to ensuring that action on the environment is part of our approach to peace," Mr. Ban stressed. "Protecting the environment can help countries create employment opportunities, promote development and avoid a relapse into armed conflict.

"Let us renew our commitment to preventing the exploitation of the environment in times of conflict, and to protecting the environment as a pillar of our work for peace."
Nov 6 2008 10:10AM
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NO END IN SIGHT FOR DROUGHT-HIT ETHIOPIA, UN AID WING SAYS

NO END IN SIGHT FOR DROUGHT-HIT ETHIOPIA, UN AID WING SAYS
New York, Nov 5 2008 7:10PM
The prolonged drought across much of Ethiopia is likely to continue into next year, and the outlook for crop production in the east of the country remains grim, the United Nations humanitarian wing said today.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) said a recent UN crop assessment found that at least six areas of eastern Ethiopia have recorded near total crop failure because of inadequate rainfall.

An inter-agency UN assessment team also began this week to determine the emergency needs for the first half of 2009, as the wider Horn of Africa region continues to suffer from the combined effects of drought and high food prices.

OCHA said the key emergency needs are expected to include food, health care, nutrition, water and sanitation, agriculture and livestock.

Last month OCHA appealed for $265 million to fund its relief operations across Ethiopia for the next three months to meet the widening scale of the crisis, which has left an estimated 6.4 million people dependent on food aid to survive.

An immediate scale-up of government and donor support is essential to meet even the basic needs of drought-hit communities, OCHA stressed.
Nov 5 2008 7:10PM
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SECRETARY-GENERAL TO TAKE PART IN MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETING THIS WEEKEND

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO TAKE PART IN MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETING THIS WEEKEND
New York, Nov 5 2008 7:11PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend a meeting of the Middle East Quartet, the international diplomatic grouping aiming to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians, in the region this weekend, he announced today.

Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1223">told journalists that he expects Israeli and Palestinian leaders to brief the meeting, which will be attended by representatives of the European Union, Russia and the United States as well as the UN, about their ongoing negotiations towards a possible peace deal.

"That would be a very important occasion," he said in response to questions, adding that he expects there will be discussions in the future with other Arab leaders.

Israeli and Palestinian officials have been holding talks over the past year as part of the Annapolis peace process, named after the US city where they were launched late last year. The Quartet has long backed a peace deal that would see two States living side by side in peace.

Meanwhile, in response to questions today about recent Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Ban's spokesperson said the Secretary-General was concerned about the outbreak of violence in Gaza and southern Israel.

The spokesperson added that Mr. Ban urged full respect for the calm that was brokered by Egypt earlier this month.
Nov 5 2008 7:11PM
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FUND UNVEILED TO SUPPORT UN YOUTH-LED PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

FUND UNVEILED TO SUPPORT UN YOUTH-LED PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT
New York, Nov 5 2008 6:10PM
A $2 million fund to finance youth-led development projects was announced yesterday by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) at the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China.

Known as the Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development, the fund is initially being financed by Norway and will work to engage young women and men in achieving sustainable urbanization and tackle issues including rampant youth unemployment, barriers to entrepreneurship and lack of appropriate training and education.

"Youth are the future of our cities, but often are rendered voiceless due to unemployment, lack of education and other issues," said UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of <"http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6031&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0">UN-HABITAT Anna Tibaijuka.

According to the UN Youth Report 2007, children and youth under the age of 24 make up nearly 40 per cent of the global populations. While also comprising one fourth of the world's working-age population, youth also account for 44 per cent of the unemployed.

"Through this new fund, we are recognizing the urgent need to bolster youth-led initiatives, and are at the forefront of a growing movement to place youth at the centre of sustainable development strategies," said Ms. Tibaijuka. "Youth-led development is about young people making a living and future for themselves and their communities".

The Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum convened international leaders in the field of youth-led development, while also engaging civil society representatives, government officials and private sector participants.

David Woollcombe, Director of Peace Child International, acknowledged the uniqueness of the Opportunities Fund within the UN system and urged other agencies to follow Norway's example in supporting youth – "the world's last remaining 'superpower'."

Through the new Fund, UN-HABITAT intends to partner with youth to advance its core mandate of sustainable urban development as well as the Millennium Development Goals and their youth-related targets.
Nov 5 2008 6:10PM
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PROGRESS SLOW BUT STEADY IN IMPLEMENTING NORTH-SOUTH PEACE PACT IN SUDAN – UN

PROGRESS SLOW BUT STEADY IN IMPLEMENTING NORTH-SOUTH PEACE PACT IN SUDAN – UN
New York, Nov 5 2008 6:10PM
Progress is being made in putting into place the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan, but obstacles such as the holding of elections remain, a senior United Nations official said today.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9493.doc.htm">Addressing the Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Edmond Mulet said that the "status of CPA implementation remains a mixed picture of slow but continuing progress and a number of major outstanding challenges."

He reported that no major ceasefire violations have occurred in the reporting period, with the overall security situation calm in Southern Sudan and transitional areas, including Abyei, which lies in an oil-rich area near the north-south boundary.

"The parties have a common interest in keeping the CPA on track, as neither can afford to return to armed conflict," Mr. Mulet said at the open meeting, adding that the sides cooperate on many issues and interact daily in government and security institutions.

"Nevertheless, they continue to postpone and delay the implementation of the more difficult aspects of the CPA."

Polls are one of the pact's benchmarks, and in spite of the passing of an electoral law this July, few positive steps have been made in other areas, such as the formation of bodies to register political parties.

In a visit to the vast country last month, Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, met with Southern Sudanese officials in Juba, who acknowledged that it is necessary to set a date for elections with the National Congress Party.

Meanwhile, the NCP said that it expects the polls to take place before the July 2009 deadline.

"However, this target date falls in the middle of the rainy season, during which the preparation and holding of elections would be near impossible," Mr. Mulet said.

Large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been returning to their homes, and the humanitarian focus is now shifting to recovery and development.

"At the same time, however, there is an urgent need to focus on the issues that will enable the parties to reach the referendum and ensure stability post-2011," he stressed, referring to the exercise of the people of Abyei and Southern Sudan of their right of self-determination to vote for unity or separation.

The official underscored the importance of international assistance, especially in the fields of disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating parties, as well as human rights.
Nov 5 2008 6:10PM
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