Asia Pacific

UNICEF joins forces with Afghan ministries to launch new women's literacy project

6 March 2003
In a bid to boost education for women, by women in Afghanistan - where perhaps 79 per cent of the female population is illiterate - the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is joining forces with Afghanistan's education and gender affairs ministries to produce the country's first literacy textbook for women.

Five UN peacekeepers in Timor-Leste die in drowning accident

6 March 2003
A drowning accident today claimed the lives of five United Nations peacekeepers from the Republic of Korea serving in Timor-Leste.

UN and partners step-up to assist China after lethal earthquake

5 March 2003
After a powerful earthquake last month killed more than 250 people and left 3,000 without housing in the harsh winter conditions in China, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners are stepping up to provide the country with needed assistance.

UN, banks offer cut-rate loans for solar power development in India

4 March 2003
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today launched a major new $7.6 million initiative with two of India's largest banking groups to offer 18,000 southern Indian households low-cost financing for clean and reliable electricity from solar power.

UNICEF, Sri Lanka rebels agree to develop plan to help war-affected children

4 March 2003
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today agreed to develop an action plan on war-affected children and child labour in northeastern Sri Lanka.

Citing security needs, Annan calls for hold on UN force cutbacks in Timor-Leste

4 March 2003
Citing "significant deterioration" in Timor-Leste's security environment, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a freeze in planned cutbacks of UN military and police forces that helped guide the territory to independence last year.

Faction leaders in northern Afghanistan hold security talks, UN reports

2 March 2003
Faction leaders in northern Afghanistan have held talks aimed at resuming the stalled disarmament process in parts of that region, a United Nations spokesman in Kabul reported today.
Ruud Lubbers

UN’s refugee chief works to prepare for more Afghan returns

2 March 2003
Security concerns are still impacting the return of exiled Afghans to their homeland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees told the press in Kabul today.