Asia Pacific

Special Representative Ameerah Haq.
UN Photo/Ryan Brown

Timor-Leste has made significant progress towards peace and stability – UN envoy

22 February 2012
Timor-Leste has made significant progress in strengthening national peace and stability, the United Nations envoy for the country told the Security Council today, noting that preparations for presidential elections next month and legislative polls later in the year are going smoothly.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Ján Kubiš.
UNAMA/Iskander Soltani

UN envoy confident appropriate action will be taken after Afghan Koran incident

21 February 2012
The United Nations today voiced its confidence that the NATO-led military force in Afghanistan will take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for the reported burning of copies of the Koran.
A flood-affected family in Pakistan washing clothes in rising floodwaters next to their temporary camp in Digri, Sindh province

Pakistan: UN and Government request additional funding for post-flood recovery

21 February 2012
The United Nations and the Pakistani Government today jointly requested $440 million to help people affected by last year’s floods in the south of the country recover their sources of livelihood, including agriculture, restore basic social services, and repair damaged infrastructure.
Flooding in Bangkok, Thailand

UN forum in South-East Asia calls for more investment to reduce disaster risks

20 February 2012
Last year's devastating floods across South-East Asia were a “wake-up call” on the need for much greater investment in disaster risk reduction across the region, a United Nations forum heard today.

Asia-Pacific makes big gains against poverty, lags on hunger and child deaths – UN

17 February 2012
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have made big gains against poverty and advancing towards other development goals, but need to redouble efforts if they are to meet globally agreed targets to reduce hunger and child and maternal mortality, the United Nations reported today.
Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar.
UNIC Yangon

By-elections in Myanmar will be key test of commitment to democracy – UN

17 February 2012
Myanmar’s upcoming by-elections will serve as a critical test of the Government’s commitment to having a credible democratic process, a senior United Nations official said today, calling on authorities to ensure that all political parties can compete openly in the ballot.
Photo: UNDP
UNDP

UN and partners help to power education with solar panel donation

17 February 2012
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has partnered with religious institutions to provide solar panels that will power much-needed electricity to schools as well as promote the use of renewable energy.
Poppy field in Afghanistan.
UNODC

Ban calls for concerted efforts to combat scourge of illicit drugs in Afghanistan

16 February 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for concerted efforts to help Afghanistan extricate itself from the scourge of drug production, use and trafficking, noting that the country’s stability remains at stake with an estimated 15 per cent of its income accruing from trade in illicit drugs.

Green economy key to overcoming resource constraints in Asia-Pacific – UN

16 February 2012
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region could overcome the constraints of limited resources by making the transition from dependence on traditional means of production to a more sustainable green economy, according to a joint report unveiled today by the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

Delhi quake drill good example for other high-risk cities to follow – UN envoy

16 February 2012
The head of the United Nations office for disaster risk reduction has welcomed the mass earthquake drill organized by Indian authorities in Delhi yesterday and encouraged all high seismic cities to follow the city’s example to better prepare for possible catastrophes.