Asia Pacific

UN warns Afghan civilians to steer clear of deadly landmines

As Afghan civilians continue to flee their homes seeking refuge from the bombing in their country, the United Nations today warned that special care must be taken to avoid the deadly landmines that litter the territory.

UN food agency nears targets in race to feed Afghans as winter sets in

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is nearing its targets for getting enough food into Afghanistan to feed the country's beleaguered people in the winter months ahead, a spokesman for the agency said today.

Polio immunization drive for Afghan children faced no major problems, UNICEF says

A three-day polio immunization campaign in Afghanistan has concluded with no major problems reported, according to a spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which helped to lead the effort.

UN official urges special measures to help war-affected Afghan children

The well-being and rehabilitation of war-affected Afghan children must be central to any international response to the situation in their country, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said today.

UN slated to start downsizing East Timor peacekeeping force next week

The gradual downsizing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor is scheduled to start next week as the territory heads towards its independence in early 2002, the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAET) said today.

Top UN refugee official appeals for international help to Afghan civilians

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today appealed to the international community to live up to its promises to help civilians in Afghanistan, and called on neighbouring countries to open their borders to fleeing Afghans.

Afghanistan: UN food agency presses on with deliveries to prevent hunger in winter

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is pressing ahead with food deliveries to Afghanistan, where the coming winter is expected to complicate relief efforts in the war-devastated and drought-stricken country, a WFP spokesman said today.

UN pursues anti-polio drive in Afghanistan despite insecurity

A United Nations drive to immunize millions of Afghan children against polio is going well despite the poor security situation in the country, according to a spokesman for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which is at the forefront of the effort.

Afghanistan: Brahimi says former King willing to play role in country's future

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, has indicated that the former King of Afghanistan is open to becoming involved in the country in the period ahead, a United Nations spokesman reported today.

Brahimi heads to Rome for meeting with former Afghan King

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, left Tehran today for Rome where he met with the former King of Afghanistan, Mohammad Zahir Shah, according to a United Nations spokesman.