Asia Pacific

Flood in Bangladesh

In face of devastating Asian floods disaster risk reduction is urgent priority – UN

10 August 2007
With hundreds of people already dead and 30 million others affected by floods from this season’s monsoon rains in South Asia, the United Nations body that seeks to mitigate the impact of natural disasters today called on all governments to speed up preventive measures, from setting up early warning networks to enforcing stricter building codes.

Asian States adopt UN-backed plan to cut millions of deaths due to man-made disasters

10 August 2007
Top environmental and health officials from South-East and East Asian countries have launched a United Nations-backed effort to reduce the estimated 6.6 million deaths in the continent each year that are attributable to ecological factors such as air pollution, solid and hazardous wastes and numerous man-made disasters.

In bid to halt post-election violence in Timor-Leste, UN convenes party leaders

10 August 2007
In an effort to end political violence in Timor-Leste, the top United Nations envoy in the small South-East Asian country today brought all political parties together at a meeting where he underscored their earlier agreement to ensure a meaningful role for the opposition and for the opposition to make constructive contributions to parliament.

UN political chief heads to Asia next week for three-nation tour

10 August 2007
The top United Nations political official will travel next week to Asia on a visit that will take him to China, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal, a spokesman for the world body said today.
John Holmes

UN boosts funding of relief effort in wake of South Asian floods

10 August 2007
The United Nations humanitarian arm is stepping up its financial support of governments across South Asia as they try to help the estimated 45 million people affected by the recent deadly flooding across the region.

Timor-Leste remains tense following post-election unrest, UN reports

9 August 2007
The security situation in Timor-Leste remained tense today, with United Nations police officers and their international and national colleagues fully deployed to end post-election violence in the small South-East Asian country that the world body helped shepherd to independence from Indonesia in 2002.

UN agency urges South-East Asia to take prompt action against dengue fever

9 August 2007
The United Nations health agency today called on South-East Asian countries to take prompt action to prevent and contain mounting outbreaks of dengue fever, a potentially fatal flu-like viral illness spread by mosquitoes breeding in artificial containers and improperly managed garbage.

Top UN relief official discusses humanitarian concerns with Sri Lankan President

9 August 2007
Assistance for returnees and ensuring the safety of civilians and aid workers were on the agenda today as United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss humanitarian matters in the South Asian island nation.
Monsoon rains bring floods and landslides to Nepal

Long-term efforts needed for South Asian flood recovery, says UN agency

9 August 2007
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that long-term relief and recovery efforts will be needed for the millions people that have been affected by severe flooding across South Asia.
Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon welcomes forthcoming inter-Korean summit

8 August 2007
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the forthcoming summit meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas as way to advance progress already made in international negotiations to rid the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of all its nuclear weapon facilities and materials in return for energy and other aid.