Asia Pacific

Timor-Leste: Annan recommends continued UN presence to consolidate gains

18 February 2004
With the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMISET) set to end in May, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has issued a special report to the Security Council hailing recent progress in the country while urging a continued international presence there in the year to come

UN survey predicts higher opium production in Afghanistan this year

18 February 2004
Last year Afghanistan produced its highest amount of opium since 1999 – an estimated 3,600 tons, or more than three-quarters of the global supply – and the country is poised to exceed that amount this year, according to the results of a United Nations survey released today.

Countries that have signed biosafety pact to meet next week in Malaysia - UN

17 February 2004
Governments that have signed the United Nations Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - a pact protecting natural biological diversity from organisms modified by modern biotechnology - will meet for the first time next week in Malaysia to discuss capacity-building, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said today.

UN condemns 'brutal and cold-blooded' murder of demining workers in Afghanistan

15 February 2004
The senior United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today voiced shock and outrage at the "brutal and cold-blooded" murder on Saturday of four deminers working with the world body to help eradicate landmines from the country.

Bird flu still spreading in Asia despite culling of 80 million chickens – UN

13 February 2004
Although some 80 million chickens have so far been culled to fight the Asian bird flu epidemic, the spread of the virus is still not under control in several countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.
Bettina Goislard at a meeting in Ghazni

Afghanistan: UN raises concerns over trial of the murder of UN staff member

13 February 2004
The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has praised the swift handling of the investigation and trial of individuals convicted of the murder of a UN staff member, while raising concerns about the trial process.
Antonio M. Costa

Afghanistan risks becoming 'narco-State,' UN anti-drug chief warns

10 February 2004
Unless illegal drug activities in Afghanistan are reined in, the country risks becoming a key player in the narcotics trade now fuelling terrorism, the head of the United Nations anti-drug agency warned today.

More Asian children than ever attend school but vast numbers drop out - UN

10 February 2004
Although more children are attending school than ever before in the countries of South and East Asia, vast numbers drop out before the end of the primary cycle, and the region still accounts for the world's largest share of out-of-school youth, according to a new United Nations report.

UN food agency appeals for urgent aid to feed 6.5 million in DPR of Korea

9 February 2004
With its cereals stocks in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) all but exhausted and little in the pipeline, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called for urgent international aid to help feed 6.5 million of the country's hungriest people.

UN officials arrive in quake-hit Indonesian province to launch aid effort

9 February 2004
United Nations officials have arrived in Indonesia’s Papua province to help local officials deal with the aftermath of a series of severe earthquakes which killed over 30 people.