UN Gazeti
Wednesday 28 May 2008
Issue No. 265
UN Observances
UN IN KENYA
KENYAN RECONCILIATION JEOPARDIZED WITHOUT BOLSTERED EFFORTS, WARNS UN ENVOY
Stepped-up measures are crucial to ensure the sustainable return of those forced to flee their homes by post-electoral violence that swept through Kenya earlier this year, a United Nations envoy cautioned yesterday.
“In the absence of substantially increased efforts, we will jeopardize the fragile process of building and restoring peace in displacement affected countries,” said Walter Kälin, the Secretary-General’s Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, at the end of his 19-23 May visit to Kenya.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN IN AFRICA
UN SPEEDS UP AID EFFORTS IN DISPUTED TOWN AHEAD OF EXPECTED RAINS
United Nations officials say they are accelerating relief efforts in the area around the disputed Sudanese town of Abyei, the scene of deadly clashes earlier this month, to help tens of thousands of displaced persons ahead of the expected rainy season and any possible renewal of fighting.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Ashraf Qazi, and the acting Humanitarian Coordinator to the country, Ted Chaiban, yesterday also urged both the national armed forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to maintain restraint so that aid can be sent unimpeded.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UNICEF AIDS VICTIMS OF XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA
After ten days of violent attacks on foreign nationals, migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers living in some of the country’s informal settlements, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping the hardest-hit cities of Johannesburg, Ekhuruleni and Tshwane to provide emergency relief supplies to vulnerable women and children.
UNICEF has supplied adult hygiene kits, food, clothing and blankets for victims of the violence, most of whom fled their homes with few or no possessions. The aim is to ensure that babies, young children and mothers are adequately clothed, safely and appropriately fed and that basic hygiene is maintained.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UNHCR TRANSFERRING NEARLY 10,000 CENTRAL AFRICANS TO SOUTHERN CHAD
In a bid to outpace the rainy season which kicks off in mid-June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has started transferring nearly 10,000 newly-arrived refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) to a new camp in southern Chad.
The agency began moving the refugees – mostly farmers – last Friday from a transit centre some 25 kilometres from the Chad-CAR border to Moula, which is 150 kilometres inland.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG - -AFRICAN PEOPLE BEST RESOURCE TO TACKLE CONTINENT'S CHALLENGES
The best means to address the problems Africa faces can be found in the continent's people, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday on the occasion of Africa Day.
Africa is one of the UN's priorities and is central to all of the world body's activities in peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian aid, Mr. Ban said in a message.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN COMMITTED TO HELPING SOMALIA DRAW UP NEW CONSTITUTION
After a call from the Somali Prime Minister for help in drawing up a new constitution, a United Nations official, on 23 May, said the world body is committed to providing assistance for the process.
At the start of talks on constitution-making on 22 May in Baidoa, in southern Somalia, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein urged the Horn of Africa nation’s politicians to “do their utmost” with the support of the UN.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UNHCR ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’ OVER XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The United Nations refugee agency said on 23 May that it remains “deeply concerned” over the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has claimed dozens of lives and has displaced some 17,000 people, including refugees and asylum-seekers.
Many of those who have been attacked in the past two weeks – a large percentage of them being Zimbabweans – had originally moved to South Africa to escape persecution in their own countries.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SECURITY COUNCIL VOICES CONCERN AT RENEWED CLASHES IN BURUNDI
The Security Council on 22 May expressed concern at the recent confrontation between rebels and Government forces in Burundi and called for both parties in the small African country to end their hostilities and fully implement the 2006 comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
“The members of the Security Council reiterated their concern at the recent confrontation between the Palipehutu-Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) and the national defence forces of Burundi, following attacks by the FNL in violation of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement,” Deputy Permanent Representative Karen Pierce of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council, said in a press statement.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG - DEADLY VIOLENCE BETWEEN MALIAN FORCES, TUAREG REBELS ALARMS SECRETARY
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern on 22 May about the situation in Mali, where clashes on 21 May between Government forces and ethnic Tuareg rebels in the north-east of the West African country have resulted in numerous fatalities.
“This latest incident underscores the urgent need to find an immediate and lasting solution to this recurrent conflict so that Mali can focus on its development priorities and consolidation of its democracy,” the Secretary-General said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN AROUND THE WORLD
SG VOICES CONCERN OVER REPORT ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE BY PEACEKEEPERS
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday expressed his deep concern over a new report issued by the non-governmental organization Save the Children (UK) that spotlights the under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers.
“The abuse of children by those sent to help is a significant and painful issue and one that UN peacekeeping has and will continue to address candidly, comprehensively and robustly,” Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. “Even one incident is one incident too many.”
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
WFP RECEIVES FUNDING BOOST TO FEED 750,000 DISPLACED IRAQIS
Thanks to a $40 million funding boost from the Iraqi Government, the United Nations World Food Programme will be able to feed up to 750,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) for the next six months.
Noting that the Iraqi contribution – the largest the Government has contributed to any UN agency – came “at a crucial time,” WFP Iraq Country Director Stefano Porretti said that “the donation shows the Government's commitment to support all Iraqis, particularly those not covered by the Government-run food distribution system.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HOLDS TALKS WITH SENIOR GERMAN OFFICIALS
Climate change, biological diversity and United Nations reform have been high on the agenda during official talks so far on the current three-day visit to Germany by General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim.
Mr. Kerim met yesterday with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the two men discussed various UN reform initiatives, including proposals to re-shape the size and nature of the Security Council, according to a spokesperson for the Assembly President.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
WHO PROVIDES MEDICAL HELP TO VICTIMS OF DEADLY EARTHQUAKE
Responding to a request by the Chinese government for medical support in wake of the massive 12 May earthquake which struck the East Asian's south-west, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is sending urgently needed supplies and support.
The devastating magnitude 8.0 tremors had their epicentre in Sichuan province has claimed over 65,000 lives, according to state media reports.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN REGIONAL ARM FOR WESTERN ASIA MEETS ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) today kicked off its 25th session on Monday in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, with the ministerial level participants focusing on financing for development in the region.
The Session, which is held every other year, is seen as the main governing of ESCWA, which decides on its policy.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG WELCOMES 'HISTORIC' ELECTION OF LEBANESE PRESIDENT
United Nations Secretary-General, on Sunday, congratulated the Lebanese people on the election of President Michel Suleimane, ending the deadlock that has endured in the Middle Eastern nation since last November.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban voiced hope that “today's historic event leads to the revitalization of all of Lebanon's constitutional institutions and a return to political dialogue within this framework.”
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
ITALY: UNHCR CONCERNED OVER HOW NEW MEASURES WILL AFFECT ASYLUM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 23 May expressed its concern over how newly approved measures in Italy would affect asylum.
Illegal immigration would be criminalized as part of a draft security package under the new provisions, which were approved by the Italian Council of Minister on Wednesday in Naples.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UNITED STATES RATIFICATION PUTS NUCLEAR PACT CLOSE TO ENTRY INTO FORCE
The United States’ ratification of a key nuclear pact, which seeks to create uniformity in compensation for victims of nuclear accidents, brings it within shot of entering into force, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced.
The US has become the fourth nation to ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), following Argentina, Morocco and Romania. A further 13 States are signatories to the pact.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
FORMER BARBADIAN OFFICIAL AND FAMILY NGO RECEIVE UN POPULATION AWARD
A former deputy prime minister from Barbados and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Family Care International received the United Nations Population Award on 22 May.
Dame Billie Antoinette Miller and the New-York based Family Care International were recognized for their “outstanding work in contributing to population and development issues, and in improving the health of individuals.”
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
For more information on the United Nations and its activities, please visit the main U.N. website at www.un.org or the U.N. Kenya website at www.un-kenya.org
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