Asia Pacific

Lakhdar Brahimi

Afghan people appreciative of international security force, UN envoy says

10 February 2003
The chief United Nations envoy for Afghanistan, attending the ceremony in which command of the international security force was handed over from Turkey to Germany and the Netherlands, said today that the Afghan people appreciated the contributions of the international community to securing their country.

Rural reforms can reduce poverty in South Asia, UN-backed report says

7 February 2003
South Asia, home to 1.4 billion people, needs to carry out major reforms to build a system of agriculture and rural development that is both growth-oriented and human-centred, according a report compiled with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNICEF delivers new school materials to Afghanistan

6 February 2003
A renewed drive for girls education in Afghanistan took off today with the first airlifts of school materials supplied by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as part of its Back to School campaign.

UN signs two agreements to assist agricultural activities in Afghanistan

6 February 2003
Two agreements signed today between the United Nations and Afghan Government aim to support animal husbandry activities and control locust infestations in the country.

UN conference adopts texts promoting information society for Western Asia

6 February 2003
Delegates from Arab countries meeting on the final day of a United Nations conference in Beirut adopted a declaration today making recommendations on policies and initiatives that would spur the growth of information technologies in Western Asia.

Secretary-General reappoints expert group monitoring Al-Qaida sanctions

6 February 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today reappointed for another year, the five experts monitoring implementation of UN sanctions imposed on Al-Qaida and their associates.

UN, India team up to vaccinate 165 million children in largest-ever anti-polio campaign

5 February 2003
India is set to launch the largest-ever mass immunization campaign against polio - targeting 165 million children - to combat the largest polio epidemic in recent history, according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).

UN conference in Western Asia continues preparations for information summit

5 February 2003
Gearing-up for a world summit on the information society, a United Nations-backed preparatory conference in Beirut today focused on key information communication technology issues relevant to Western Asia.

UN calls for immediate action to halt spread of HIV/AIDS in South Asia

4 February 2003
United Nations officials today told a meeting in Nepal on HIV/AIDS that the disease was "stalking" South Asians and warned that the region had only a narrow window of opportunity for turning back the epidemic.
Carol Bellamy

UNICEF chief urges parties in Nepal to focus on well-being of children

4 February 2003
For the sake of Nepal's children, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today urged the parties to that country's conflict to ensure that the ceasefire is swiftly followed by a peaceful resolution of the clashes, which has had an increasingly sever impact on youngsters and women.