Europe

This was voted best photo, will be on display

UN-sponsored photo exhibit by children of Beslan opens today

26 August 2005
Nearly one year after the bloody siege of School No. 1 in Beslan shattered the small town in southern Russia and left some 330 people dead, half of them children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has helped mount an exhibition of nearly 100 photographs vividly depicting their pain, grief and hopes for the future.

In face of wildfires, UN disaster agency calls for global cooperation on prevention

24 August 2005
With wildfires destroying more than 140,000 hectares of forest and farmland in Portugal since the beginning of the summer, the United Nations disaster reduction agency is calling on countries around the world to cooperate in enforcing basic measures to reduce the risks.

Media campaign to save North Sea from litter wins UN-sponsored award

24 August 2005
A media relations-led awareness campaign to reduce the amount of litter in the North Sea, casting a spotlight on birds being turned into “living dustbins” because of the amount of plastic waste they consume, has been chosen for the 2005 United Nations Grand Award for outstanding achievement in public relations.

United Kingdom must not deport people to countries with risk of torture – UN rights expert

23 August 2005
A United Nations human rights expert today called on the United Kingdom not to deport anybody under its new anti-terrorism law to a country where there is a risk of torture or ill-treatment, warning that the proposed assurances it would seek were not an adequate guarantee and circumvented its treaty obligations.

Kosovo: UN helps set up hotline for victims of gender violence and trafficking

19 August 2005
Victims of gender based violence in Kosovo, including victims of human trafficking, will soon have additional recourse for aid thanks to an agreement signed today by the United Nations and local postal authorities to establish a toll-free ‘HelpLine’ in the UN-administered province.

As flooding continues in Bulgaria, UN agencies stand ready to offer further help

18 August 2005
With 20,000 people in Bulgaria in need of food, bedding, hepatitis vaccine, antibiotics and insect repellent due to heavy flooding, United Nations agencies are continuing to provide emergency aid, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest update today.

UN refugee agency reports harrowing accounts from Uzbeks who fled violence

15 August 2005
The United Nations refugee agency today reported harrowing tales of violence during disturbances in Uzbekistan earlier this year based on accounts from Uzbeks who fled to neighbouring Kyrgyzstan and are now in Romania awaiting resettlement.

As new flooding hits Bulgaria, UN agencies bring help

9 August 2005
With heavy rains worsening already critical flooding in Bulgaria and prompting the evacuation of 12,000 more people, United Nations agencies are mobilizing help for the second time in three weeks, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.
Annan with Robin Cook (left) on 1999 UK visit

Annan pays tribute to late UK foreign secretary Robin Cook

6 August 2005
Reacting with sadness to the death of former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today looked back on their long cooperation together and paid tribute to the late diplomat's skills.

Vienna-Budapest Supermarathon highlights UN Year of Sport

5 August 2005
The yearly "Supermarathon" from Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary, a five-day run that covers 352 kilometres, will be held this year as part of the United Nations International Year of Sport and Physical Education, the UN Information Service in Vienna announced today.