Asia Pacific

Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos (centre) visits a Child Friendly Space in Guiuan, Philippines, on 26 February 2014.
OCHA/Joey Reyna

Shelter, livelihoods remain priorities in typhoon-hit Philippines – top UN relief official

27 February 2014
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are prioritizing shelter and livelihoods projects in the typhoon-devastated parts of the Philippines, while continuing to provide the most vulnerable people with life-saving assistance and protection services.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand.
Jean-Marc Ferré

Thailand: UN chief urges respect for human rights as political violence continues

26 February 2014
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the political parties in Thailand to respect human rights and the rule of law, and to work together towards resolving the politically-motivated confrontations which are becoming more deadly.
Afghan refugees sit outside their tent in Islamabad, Pakistan.
UNHCR/A. Shahzad

Pakistan begins to issue new cards to Afghan refugees, UN confirms

25 February 2014
The United Nations refugee agency today confirmed that it assisting the Government of Pakistan to issue new refugee cards to more than 1.6 million Afghan refugees in the country, certifying that they are legally in the country and should be allow access to social services and basic rights.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo (file photo)

UN chief condemns armed attacks amidst Thailand's power struggle

23 February 2014
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate end to escalating violence in Thailand, and urged authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
Electoral staff in Afghanistan busy laying the groundwork for the polls, which will be critical for the country’s stability.
Shamsuddin Hamedi/UNAMA

Afghans must ensure next election is credible, urges UN official

22 February 2014
'Ahead of Afghanistan's national elections, the top United Nations official in the country is calling on Afghan authorities and independent electoral bodies to ensure the polls are credible, while also urging the Taliban to stop attempts to disrupt the electoral process.
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomás Ojea Quintana.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

On final mission to Myanmar, UN expert highlights remaining human rights challenges

19 February 2014
The independent United Nations expert tasked with monitoring the human rights situation in Myanmar today welcomed the improvements that have been made, but highlighted a number of challenges that, if left unaddressed, could jeopardize the country’s entire reform process.
Uncontrolled live poultry trade poses the highest risk of A(H7N9) introduction.
FAO/Saul Palma

Humans with bird flu pose no threat to poultry populations, says UN agency

19 February 2014
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today there is no evidence that human patients infected with influenza A(H7N9), a low pathogenic virus in poultry, can transmit the virus to animals, including birds.
Villawood Immigration Detention Centre outside Sydney, Australia, which houses asylum-seekers.
IRIN (file)

Manus Island disturbance prompts UN call for ensuring protection of asylum-seekers

18 February 2014
The United Nations refugee agency today highlighted the need to address “significant shortcomings” in the process by which Australia moves asylum-seekers to Papua New Guinea and called for a probe into recent incidents that reportedly led to the death of an asylum-seeker on Manus Island.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

DPR Korea human rights report elicits concern from senior UN officials

18 February 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, today urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to engage with the international community improve its human rights record after a UN-mandated report catalogued crimes against humanity of an “unimaginable scale” being committed in the country.
Michael Kirby, Chair of the of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, briefs the press during the launch of the report.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN-mandated human rights inquiry on DPR Korea documents 'widespread, systematic abuses'

17 February 2014
A grim array of human rights abuses, driven by “policies established at the highest level of State,” have been and continue to be committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to a United Nations-mandated report released today, which also calls for urgent action to address the rights situation in the country, including referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).