UN Gazeti
Wednesday 14 August 2008
Issue No. 276
UN Observances
| 9 August |
International day of World’s Indigenous People |
| 12 August |
International Youth Day
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| 8 September |
International Literacy Day |
UN IN KENYA
NEW UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR TAKES OFFICE
Mr. Aeneas Chuma is the new UNDP Resident Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya. Mr. Chuma, accredited by the Government of Kenya on 11 August 2008, replaces Ms Elizabeth Lwanga whose term of office ended on 30 June 2008.
A Zimbabwean national, Mr. Chuma brings to his new assignment in Kenya a wealth of experience having served in the same capacity with the United Nations System in Zambia.
His professional life spans years of increasingly responsible positions held within the UN System in both Eastern and Southern Africa, the Arab States and at the headquarters in New York., in addition to working as an Economist with his country’s Reserve Bank where his professional life begun.
For more information, visit: http://www.ke.undp.org/
UN IN AFRICA
UN ENVOY VOICES DEEP CONCERN OVER RECENT VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the Central African Republic (CAR) yesterday expressed his deep concern over insecurity in the country’s north-east, stressing that violence threatens the ceasefire and peace accord signed by the parties in May.
François Lonsény Fall condemned the latest shooting incident on 7 August between Government forces and the rebel Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD).
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SENIOR UN ENVOY IN SOMALIA WELCOMES PLAN TO HOLD KEY MEETINGS ON PEACE DEAL
The top United Nations envoy to Somalia said yesterday he was encouraged that two key committees set up as a part of a June accord aiming to bring peace to the war-torn country are set to convene this weekend.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, said in a press release that the Joint Security Committee and the High Level Committee will meet in neighbouring Djibouti for three days starting this Saturday.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SUPPORT FOR UPCOMING POLLS FOCUS OF TALKS BETWEEN UN AND IVORIAN OFFICIALS
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has pledged the world body’s support and assistance for the holding of the West African country’s presidential election, slated for November.
Y. J. Choi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, and Robert Mambé Beugré, the President of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), discussed the latest developments in the Ivorian electoral process during a meeting held yesterday at UNOCI’s headquarters in Abidjan.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN OFFICIAL UNDERSCORES ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ON DR CONGO
The United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is committed to the world body’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct, the mission’s Force Commander stressed yesterday, noting that the misbehaviour of even one soldier can damage the reputation of the entire operation.
Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye was responding to questions from reporters in New York following the announcement that an investigation by the UN had found prima facie evidence that troops with an Indian contingent in the mission, which is known as MONUC, may have engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG ‘DEEPLY TROUBLED’ BY EVIDENCE OF ABUSE BY BLUE HELMETS IN DR CONGO
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 12 August 2008 he was “deeply troubled” by the outcome of a probe that has revealed prima facie evidence that a number of Indian peacekeepers, previously assigned to one of the units with the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), may have engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse.
“He reiterates, in the strongest possible terms, that such behaviour, if substantiated, is wholly unacceptable and that disciplinary action to the maximum degree permitted by Indian law should be taken as soon as possible against those found to be involved in such misconduct,” he said in a statement released by his spokesperson.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
EGYPTIAN ENGINEERS JOIN UN-AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DARFUR
The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that 129 Egyptian engineering personnel arrived on 12 August 2008 in the western Sudanese region to join the force that is trying to quell the deadly fighting and humanitarian suffering that has raged since 2003.
Tuesday’s arrival at the airport in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state and the headquarters of UNAMID, completes the full deployment of the Egyptian engineering company, which consists of 335 personnel.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
CHILDREN ARE MAIN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN CHAD, SG SAYS IN NEW REPORT
Children continue to be the primary victims of the conflict in Chad, whether they are recruited as soldiers, killed or hurt by landmines or denied humanitarian access, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in a report made public on Tuesday.
“The political, military and security situation remains highly volatile,” he said, due to the ongoing violence between Chadian armed forces and rebel groups, the presence of foreign rebels in the country’s east, cross-border raids by allied militiamen known as the Janjaweed and continuing tensions, mainly between Arab and non-Arab communities. As a result, children are made to suffer.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
TOP UN ENVOY CALLS FOR SPEEDY RETURN TO CONSTITUTIONAL RULE IN MAURITANIA
The top United Nations envoy to West Africa has called for an immediate return to constitutional rule in Mauritania after wrapping up a three-day visit to the country, where military leaders last week overthrew the Government.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Said Djinnit, met with General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, the new head of the High State Council.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN AROUND THE WORLD
SG URGES PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSED GEORGIA PEACE PLAN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the acceptance by Georgia and Russia of a proposed peace plan to end the conflict that has raged in Georgia for nearly a week and urged the parties to move quickly to halt the fighting.
“He calls for immediate follow through in implementing the agreed principles, including the full end to hostilities and the withdrawal of forces to previous positions,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement, welcoming the plan proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AFTER AID WORKERS KILLED IN AFGHAN ATTACK
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has voiced his outrage at the deaths of three female international aid workers and their Afghan colleague after their vehicle was attacked.
The vehicle, belonging to the United States-based International Rescue Committee, was travelling from Kabul to Logar when it was fired on by unknown gunmen this morning.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SECURITY COUNCIL, BAN DEPLORE DEADLY BOMBING IN NORTHERN LEBANON
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council yesterday condemned this morning’s bombing in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, voicing hope that it will not impede recent political progress in the Middle Eastern nation.
Media reports say the bombing has claimed at least 10 lives, including those of several soldiers.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG APPOINTS NEW UN CONTROLLER
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced yesterday that he is appointed Japan’s Jun Yamazaki as Assistant Secretary-General, Office of Programme Planning, Budgets and Accounts, and Controller.
Mr. Yamazaki replaces Warren Sach, who now assumes the role of Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services, where he will be responsible for procurement, among other functions. He will also remain the Secretary-General’s Representative for Pension Fund investments.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
TRIBUTES BY UN OFFICIALS MARK PASSING OF PALESTINIAN POET
Senior United Nations officials in the Middle East have joined their voices to those paying tribute to the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who was laid to rest yesterday.
The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), Robert Serry, sent his condolences to the Palestinian people following the death of the 67-year-old writer who died on Saturday.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN-BACKED EXPERT GROUP TAKES STEPS TO ESTABLISH NEW BIOFUEL STANDARD
A United Nations-backed group of international experts has endorsed a first draft of a new global sustainability standard for biofuels to assess their economic, social and environmental effects.
The Steering Board of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), which includes an expert from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), yesterday signed off on the draft criteria, called “Version Zero,” which is based on a comprehensive “land to tank” analysis spanning the entire chain of biofuel production.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
LANDMARK COOPERATION DEAL SIGNED BETWEEN UN AND IRAQI GOVERNMENT
The United Nations yesterday signed a landmark agreement with the Government of Iraq which lays down a three-year blueprint for the world body’s work in reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance.
“The Strategy signals a real moment of opportunity in Iraq, with greater stability, a clear will to recover, a growing UN presence and better access to many areas,” said David Shearer, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
BBC TO BROADCAST UN-FUNDED DOCUMENTARY ON INDIA’S PREFERENCE FOR SONS
A new documentary, funded in part by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), airs this week on BBC, spotlighting the issue of 700,000 missing girls in India as a result of the country’s drive to have male children.
“No country for young girls” explores issues such as illegal sex determination and consequent elimination, and its consequences for vast Asian nation in the years to come. It portrays a young Indian woman who has to choose between staying with a husband who does not want girl children, or to make it on her own.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
WFP PROVIDES $214 MILLION TO HELP 16 COUNTRIES COPE WITH FOOD CRISIS
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the roll-out of a $214 million response to help millions in 16 countries hit hard by high food and fuel prices.
The funds will provide critical assistance by providing life-saving food rations to highly vulnerable groups, continuing to feed school-aged children even while school is out, and giving supplemental food to pregnant women and young children whose mental and physical development is at stake.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
CHILDREN ARE MAIN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN CHAD, BAN SAYS IN NEW REPORT
Children continue to be the primary victims of the conflict in Chad, whether they are recruited as soldiers, killed or hurt by landmines or denied humanitarian access, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in a report made public on 12 August 2008.
“The political, military and security situation remains highly volatile,” he said, due to the ongoing violence between Chadian armed forces and rebel groups, the presence of foreign rebels in the country’s east, cross-border raids by allied militiamen known as the Janjaweed and continuing tensions, mainly between Arab and non-Arab communities. As a result, children are made to suffer.
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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