Americas

Top UN relief official heads to Guatemala for regional meeting on hurricanes

28 February 2006
To help Central America prepare for an upcoming hurricane season that could rival the violent season of 2005, the United Nations top humanitarian relief official is heading to Guatemala this week for a high-level regional meeting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

UN agency pinpoints urgent needs of Bolivian families hit by floods

27 February 2006
The most pressing needs of the 13,000 Bolivian families affected by last month’s severe floods include latrines, clean water, food supplies for children and basic equipment for schools, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

UN establishes coordination base to aid flood-stricken families in Bolivia

23 February 2006
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today announced the establishment of a center to coordinate health, food, shelter and education aid for many of the 13,000 families affected by January’s severe floods in Bolivia.

Haiti: UNICEF hails president’s vow to take young off streets, put them in school

22 February 2006
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pledged to mobilize international support for Haitian President-elect René Préval’s declared intention to put children at the top of his political agenda for the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Top UN envoy to Haiti welcomes national dialogue after elections

22 February 2006
After updating the Security Council on the election process in Haiti, the United Nations top envoy to that country welcomed President-elect René Préval’s invitation for Haitians to join together in a national dialogue.

UNESCO condemns murder of two journalists in Ecuador

21 February 2006
Stressing once again that freedom of the press is essential for democracy and rule of law, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today deplored the murder of two journalists in Ecuador.

Security Council, Annan congratulate President-elect René Préval of Haiti

17 February 2006
Applauding the Haitian people for their patience and continuing commitment to democracy, the United Nations Security Council today congratulated René Préval on his victory in the Caribbean country's recent presidential election.

Haiti: UN mission supports electoral council’s declaration of presidential victor

16 February 2006
The head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) today supported Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council’s declaration that former President René Préval was the winner of last week’s presidential elections and stressed that the Council’s decision had not been influenced by the mission.

Commission on Human Rights: independent experts issue report on Guantanamo detainees

16 February 2006
Five independent human rights experts with mandates from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights today called on the United States to close the Guantánamo Bay detention centre and either bring all detainees to trial or release them without further delay, according to a joint report released today in Geneva.

Haiti: Security Council calls for peaceful expression of electoral concerns

15 February 2006
Stressing that post-election demonstrations have been hampering the vote count, United Nations Security Council members today called on Haitians to rely on legal processes to express any concerns about last week’s presidential poll.