Asia Pacific

Second round of Bangladeshi floods prompts UNICEF to send aid

14 September 2007
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is distributing life-saving drugs, high protein biscuits and shelter equipment in Bangladesh, which is bracing itself for a potentially devastating second round of floods in the monsoon season this year.

Nepal: brief departure of Maoists from cantonment sites sparks UN concern

14 September 2007
The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has voiced concern that large numbers of Maoist soldiers today briefly left one of the cantonment sites where they had agreed to stay as part of last year’s peace accord ending the conflict in the Himalayan country.

Difficult security conditions impede much-needed aid delivery to Afghans – UN

14 September 2007
Challenging security conditions are impeding relief workers’ efforts to assess and meet humanitarian needs in remote areas in Afghanistan’s south, south-east and east, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Indonesia: Ban Ki-moon voices concern over earthquake and possible tsunami

12 September 2007
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his deep concern over the potential consequences of today’s earthquake – and the tsunami which may follow – off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island.
Afghan children releasing doves into the air

Top UN envoy in Afghanistan calls for total cessation of violence to mark Peace Day

11 September 2007
The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today appealed for a total cessation of violence across the country on 21 September, marked around the world as International Day of Peace, and for days of tranquillity ahead of that date to allow for vital humanitarian initiatives to be carried out.

Former Hungarian Prime Minister to lead panel on UNDP work in DPR Korea

11 September 2007
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today announced the members of a panel, to be led by the former Prime Minister of Hungary, that will look into the agency’s activities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

UN atomic watchdog helps protect against nuclear terrorism at Beijing Olympics

10 September 2007
The United Nations atomic watchdog agency is providing expertise to support the security of major public events against the threat of nuclear terrorism, including ongoing preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

‘Martyrdom culture’ not major cause of Afghan suicide attacks, UN reports

10 September 2007
Suicide attackers in Afghanistan, including children, are being coerced or duped into carrying out such operations, and seemed to be motivated by a variety of grievances such as foreign occupation, anger over civilian casualties and humiliation rather than a “martyrdom culture,” according to a new United Nations report.

Myanmar: UN human rights chief calls for release of peaceful demonstrators

10 September 2007
Voicing mounting concern over the detention of peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Government to release them immediately.
Security Council

Security Council welcomes progress after elections in Timor-Leste

10 September 2007
Welcoming the formation of a new Government in Timor-Leste after recent legislative elections, the Security Council today urged the small South-East Asian country’s political groups to resolve any differences or disputes through only peaceful channels.