Asia Pacific

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe

UN political chief urges swift resumption of talks on DPR Korea

12 February 2010
The top United Nations political official today wrapped up a visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying he told officials from the North Asian nation that international talks on denuclearization must be resumed “without preconditions or delay.”
Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

UN expert hopes to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in upcoming trip

11 February 2010
A United Nations independent human rights expert today voiced hope that he will be able to hold talks with pro-democracy leader and Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi when he visits Myanmar next week.
UNIDO Director-General Kandeh Yumkella addresses Delhi Sustainable Development Summit

Hazardous medical wastes targeted in $40-million joint UN-Indian project

11 February 2010
The United Nations agency that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction and environmental sustainability has teamed up with the Government of India in a $40-million pilot project to help the country’s healthcare system dispose of hazardous medical waste.
Poppy field

Opium production in Afghanistan may fall in 2010, UN reports

10 February 2010
The cultivation of opium – raw material for the world's deadliest drug, heroin – in Afghanistan could drop this year, the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today, as bad weather is forecast during the country's current growing season.
Helen Clark

Senior UN official calls for increased social protection in Pacific island region

10 February 2010
The ongoing economic and financial crises are an opportunity to implement social protection programmes in Pacific island countries that address the needs of the vulnerable, particularly of women and children, the United Nations development chief said today at the start of a conference about the impact of the global downturn on the region.
Pacific island nations meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Pacific island nations at UN meeting call on world to fulfil aid commitments

9 February 2010
Fourteen island developing nations in the Pacific Ocean wrapped up a United Nations-backed meeting today with a call to the global community to honour its commitments to help them weather the fallout from global economic crises and recent natural disasters.
Women and children in Pakistan's IDP camps face an especially tough time

Humanitarian crisis for Pakistan’s displaced far from over – UN official

9 February 2010
The top United Nations humanitarian official in Pakistan has called on the international community not to forget the vulnerable civilians displaced in the country’s northwest, urging donors to contribute to a $537 million appeal launched to meet immediate relief needs.
UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Sri Lanka: UN chief urges due process for arrested opposition leader

9 February 2010
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the rights and safety of the defeated presidential candidate and former army chief who was arrested yesterday, and said he intends to speak to the country’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the issue.
Child soldiers who have been officially delisted from the Maoist army in Nepal

Nepal: UN hails release of all child soldiers by Maoists

8 February 2010
The final batch of the nearly 3,000 child soldiers who served in the Maoist army during Nepal's decade-long civil war have been discharged and re-entered civilian life today, in a move hailed by United Nations officials as a milestone in the country's peace process.

Pacific island nations gather for UN meeting to review development goals

8 February 2010
Top officials from 14 small island developing nations in the Pacific Ocean are gathering in Vanuatu today for a United Nations-backed meeting to review strides made in sustainable development.