Asia Pacific

UNHCR worker registers Afghan refugees

UN refugee agency begins clearing controversial Afghan camp in Pakistan

30 June 2003
The United Nations refugee agency today began clearing a controversial makeshift camp just inside the Pakistani border where nearly 20,000 Afghan refugees had been stranded since early 2002 in an area insecure and rife with smugglers.

UN and Afghan security commission to assess reports of factional fighting

29 June 2003
Following reports that factional fighting has broken out in Afghanistan's Samangan province, the United Nations is supporting a security commission headed to the area.
James T. Morris

Chief of UN agency calls on Asian countries to support hunger reduction

27 June 2003
During his first official visit to Thailand, the chief of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called on Asian countries to support efforts to tackle hunger and poverty in the region and around the world.

New SARS case in China does not indicate new transmission – UN agency

26 June 2003
A new probable case of SARS has been reported in China’s Guangdong Province, which was removed from the list of areas with recent local transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on 13 June, but the United Nations health agency said it was a reclassification of a suspect case and did not indicate a new transmission.
Afghan refugees at transit centre at Dogharoun, Iran

Returning Afghan refugees pass quarter million mark for 2003 – UN agency

25 June 2003
The number of Afghan refugees returning home from neighbouring countries so far in 2003 passed the quarter-million mark today, well below the overwhelming numbers of a year ago but still very high by standards of most refugee movements, the United Nations refugee agency reported.

UN health agency lifts travel warning for Beijing, last place on SARS watch list

24 June 2003
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today lifted its final SARS travel warning, removing Beijing, locus of one of the largest outbreaks of the newly emergent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, from the list of places where all but essential travel should be avoided.

WHO removes Hong Kong from list of areas with recent local SARS transmission

23 June 2003
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today removed Hong Kong, which has reported the second largest number of SARS cases and deaths after China, from the list of areas with recent local transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Myanmar democracy leader's detention 'truly deplorable' - Annan

23 June 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan voiced grave concern today over the conditions under which Myanmar democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is being held, terming it "truly deplorable" and again calling for her immediate release.

First female UN police commissioner assumes duty in Timor-Leste

23 June 2003
The first female United Nations' police commissioner assumed her functions today with the world body's support mission in Timor-Leste.
Lakhdar Brahimi

Top UN envoy in Afghanistan urges release of detained journalists

22 June 2003
Lakhdar Brahimi, the senior United Nations official in Afghanistan, today called for the immediate release of two journalists arrested there last week.