Asia Pacific

Cyclists line up for the start of the second-ever Tour de Timor

Timor-Leste: UN staff race for yellow jersey in gruelling bike race

13 September 2010
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, today to cheer the start of the second-ever Tour de Timor, a five-day mountain bike race in which more than 360 riders – including 10 United Nations staff members – from 20 countries are taking part.
Amb. Ertugrul Apakan

Security Council deplores deadly car bombing in Russia

11 September 2010
The Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the suicide car bombing that occurred in the Russian city of Vladikavkaz on 9 September, which reportedly killed at least a dozen people and wounded more than 140.
Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) on parade in celebration of its tenth anniversary

Timorese force takes over policing duties from UN in eighth district

11 September 2010
The Timorese national police force on Friday resumed primary policing responsibilities in Ermera, the eighth district to be handed over from the United Nations since the gradual transfer of security functions began in May 2009.

Young Afghans go door-to-door raising HIV awareness – UN

9 September 2010
Young people in eastern Afghanistan have gone door-to-door to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS as part of a United Nations-backed campaign.
Roads and bridges were destroyed by the landslides in Rakhine state, Myanmar

UN-backed project helps villagers in Myanmar rebuild lives following floods

9 September 2010
Almost 100,000 villagers in western Myanmar whose homes or croplands were badly damaged by floods earlier this year are rebuilding their lives under a United Nations-backed project that provides income-generating activities for locals.
Valerie Amos (centre) visits a camp for flood-affected people in Pakistan in early September

UN relief chief pleads for more help for Pakistani flood survivors

9 September 2010
The top United Nations humanitarian official today cautioned that the international attention on the devastating flood disaster in Pakistan is dwindling even before the millions of people affected have received adequate relief and others are awaiting assistance to rebuild their lives.
Staffan de Mistura, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Threat to burn Koran could endanger those assisting Afghanistan, warns UN envoy

8 September 2010
The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today voiced his outrage over the threat by a religious group in the United States to burn copies of the Koran, warning that it could endanger the lives of those working to further peace and development in the Asian nation.
Valerie Amos visits a makeshift school in Kashmore built on high ground during her visit to the flood affected population

Pakistani flood emergency still unfolding, UN relief chief warns during visit

8 September 2010
With millions of homes and livelihoods in flood-hit Pakistan washed away, disease spreading in affected areas and large swathes of the country still under water, the top United Nations relief official today warned that the emergency there is not yet over.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos

New UN humanitarian chief spends first day at work in flood-hit Pakistan

7 September 2010
The newly-appointed United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos arrived in Pakistan today, her first day on the job, to witness the humanitarian response to the flood disaster and encourage more donor support to the millions of people affected across the length of the South Asian country.
Midwife Farzana Sarki delivered Noor Bano's baby in a tent at a camp for flood victims in Pakistan

UN agency spotlights plight of pregnant women in Pakistani flood zone

7 September 2010
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned today that thousands of flood-affected pregnant women face the risk of death and disability unless relief efforts can be scaled up quickly to meet their needs.