Asia Pacific

70,000 Afghan refugees in makeshift camp in Pakistan get emergency aid from UN

23 May 2001
Extremely concerned at the plight of some 70,000 Afghan refugees living in an insecure, makeshift site in Pakistan, the United Nations has begun providing them with temporary emergency assistance pending a more permanent decision on their relocation.

UN mission in East Timor reports agreement on new draft labour law

23 May 2001
Three days of consultations between the East Timor Transitional Administration, employers, workers and members of civic society have yielded an agreement on a draft labour code, UNTAET, the UN Transitional Administration in the territory, said today in Dili.

Over half of East Timorese registered to vote, UN Mission says

22 May 2001
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today reported that it had registered almost 54 per cent of the territory's population in preparation for the 30 August elections of a Constituent Assembly.

UN refugee agency voices concern over Cambodia's expulsion of Vietnamese

22 May 2001
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said it was "extremely concerned" about reports that some Vietnamese asylum seekers have been deported from Cambodia over recent months.

Taliban shuts down 4 UN political offices in Afghanistan

21 May 2001
Following through on a decision announced earlier this month, the Taliban has shut down all but two United Nations political offices in Afghanistan, a United Nations spokesman reported today.
UN Security Council in session

Security in East Timor is "good" as territory nears elections, Security Council told

18 May 2001
The security situation in East Timor is good as the territory makes progress towards the 30 August elections for a Constituent Assembly - the precursor to a parliament, the United Nations Security Council was told today by a top UN peacekeeping official.

Taliban create obstacles for aid community in Afghanistan, UN office says

18 May 2001
The aid community is facing increasing obstacles from Taliban authorities in carrying out its work in Afghanistan, in violation of agreements that spell out conditions for continued humanitarian assistance by the United Nations, the Islamabad-based Office of the UN Coordinator for Afghanistan said today.

China, UN labour agency launch new partnership to improve workers' rights

18 May 2001
The Government of China and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have entered into a new partnership to strengthen Chinese policies for employment, social dialogue and social protection, in line with internationally recognized workers' rights, the United Nations agency announced today.
East Timorese man

East Timor: 'unexpected' progress made in talks between Jakarta, UN mission

18 May 2001
Bilateral talks between the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the Government of Indonesian have yielded agreement on several important issues, including pension and compensation, the UN operation announced today.

Asia-Pacific region prepares for UN World Summit on Sustainable Development

18 May 2001
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations entities dealing with the environment and socio-economic issues in Asia and the Pacific have begun regional preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2002.