Asia Pacific

Petko Draganov.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Bulgarian national appointed new head of UN regional centre in Central Asia

17 March 2015
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Petko Draganov of Bulgaria as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
This family in Nikinini community, Vanuatu, lost everything during the passage of Super Cyclone Pam.
UNICEF/Graham Crumb

Amid logistical challenges, UN focuses on priority needs for cyclone-hit Vanuatu

17 March 2015
In spite of logistical challenges facing the humanitarian response in Vanuatu, a nation that comprises over 80 islands, United Nations agencies continue to scale up their efforts to assist with priority needs including the provision of food, water and healthcare in the wake of the devastating cyclone that battered the country over the weekend.
Pacific Island leaders brief press at Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. Left to right: Ambassador Aunese Makoi Simati of Tuvalu; Foreign Minister Tai Tura of the Cook Islands, and Faamoetauloa Tumaalii, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa.
Nan Zehng

Devastation in cyclone’s wake illustrates need for targeted disaster response, Pacific leaders say at UN conference

17 March 2015
With reports slowly emerging about the damage wrought in Vanuatu, which suffered the brunt of Cyclone Pam that pummeled the South Pacific over the weekend, leaders from the region made a joint call today from a United Nations conference on disaster resilience for scaled-up storm recovery efforts, as well as durable partnerships that would help their countries strengthen capacities to deal with such extreme weather events.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Nicholas Haysom, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in that country.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

At Security Council, UN envoy cites renewed hope for Afghan peace process

16 March 2015
The top United Nations envoy for Afghanistan today said there was renewed hope for the peace process as he briefed the Security Council, which extended the mandate of the UN mission in the country for another year.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas (file)

Pakistan: UN chief deplores terrorist attack on Christian sites of worship

16 March 2015
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the terrorist attacks committed against two Christian churches in Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of children are in urgent need of assistance in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam ripped through the country.
UNICEF Pacific

As UN steps up aid efforts, Ban promises ‘necessary action’ to assist cyclone-hit Vanuatu

16 March 2015
With United Nations relief agencies stepping up their response in Vanuatu after the country was hit by Cyclone Pam, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the event “tragically underscored” the importance of global efforts on disaster risk reduction.
A child looks through a doorway as Cyclone Pam hits Vanuatu, March 2015.
UNICEF Pacific

UN relief agencies ramp up support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu as country’s President appeals for assistance

15 March 2015
Amid reports that powerful Cyclone Pam has impacted at least half the population of Vanuatu, the country's President, attending a United Nations conference under way in Japan aiming to reduce disaster risk, appealed for international support in anticipation of large-scale needs.
Damage seen on Saturday 14 March 2015 in Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu, after Cyclone Pam moved through the Archipelago.
UNICEF Pacific

UN responding to ‘devastating’ impact of Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, Pacific region

14 March 2015
The United Nations announced today that it is taking all necessary steps to respond to the catastrophic impacts of a devastating tropical cyclone that affected most of Vanuatu over the past two days.
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark (wearing blue cap) and WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin (wearing yellow) visit the Thet Kae Pyin settlement for internally displaced people in Sittwe, Rakhine State, Myanmar.
UNDP/Shobhna Delcoitre

Myanmar: UN officials pledge humanitarian, development assistance for country’s future

13 March 2015
The United Nations remains committed to helping Myanmar achieve its humanitarian and development needs in order to boost living standards for all its citizens, top UN officials have declared during their visit to the Asian country.
Local residents in Port Vila, Vanuatu, stocking up on emergency supplies as Tropical Cyclone Pam approaches.
UNICEF Pacific

UN stands ready to assist as Tropical Cyclone Pam threatens Vanuatu,Pacific region

13 March 2015
As the pacific island nation of Vanuatu braces for Tropical Cyclone Pam, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced today that it is standing by to assist the Government.