GAZA: UN RECEIVES €13 MILLION CASH INJECTION TO EASE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS

GAZA: UN RECEIVES €13 MILLION CASH INJECTION TO EASE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS
New York, Sep 1 2009 6:10PM
A United Nations-backed employment scheme in Gaza is set to receive a €13 million boost from the European Union that will create more than 1.4 million work days for the jobless in the Strip, the UN agency tasked with providing basic services for Palestinian refugees announced today.

The donation will go towards the agency's jobs creation programme in the Gaza Strip, which is designed to provide temporary work to alleviate the unemployment crisis and high poverty rates in the area.

As a two-year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza continues to dictate the lives of ordinary people and cause severe deprivation, unprecedented unemployment rates have soared to around 40 per cent, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) said in a news release.

"Funding towards UNRWA's Job Creation Programme has never been more crucial, as people in Gaza struggle under the hardship of the ongoing blockade and the effects of the recent conflict," stressed UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd.

"The main priority for ordinary Gazans is to work and to lead productive lives, not to receive hand-outs," stressed Ms. AbuZayd, adding that UNRWA's job creation scheme "addresses this, as it provides thousands of employment opportunities for both men and women, targeting the poorest and most vulnerable of refugee households."

The EU funding will provide more than 17,000 jobs, directly and indirectly benefiting some 105,384 hired workers and their dependents, and generating more than 1.45 million work days for the 1.1 million registered refugees in the area.

UNRWA's funding decision will prioritize projects in the all but collapsed private sector and those assisting local utilities and service providers. The EU money will also help the agency fulfil its humanitarian and human development responsibilities in fields such as education, environmental health and food distribution.
Sep 1 2009 6:10PM
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MORE THAN 100 HAITIAN ORPHANS RECEIVE AID FROM NEPALESE UN PEACEKEEPERS

MORE THAN 100 HAITIAN ORPHANS RECEIVE AID FROM NEPALESE UN PEACEKEEPERS
New York, Sep 1 2009 5:10PM
Nepalese troops serving with the United Nations mission in Haiti, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH, have delivered food, clothing and medical care to some 112 orphaned children in a remote mountain village, the UN peacekeeping operation announced today.

The blue helmets made the humanitarian trip to Kenskoff, 45 minutes outside the capital Port-au-Prince, on Friday with a medical contingent consisting of a doctor, three nurses and a paramedic.

"For each child we do a health assessment to assess nutritional status, and check their measurements – weight, height, etc.," said military doctor Ritesh Sinha, adding that "nearly 70 per cent of the children examined show severe signs of malnutrition."

The medical team administered treatments ranging from re-hydration solutions and antibiotics to de-worming medicine and anti-bacterial ointments to the orphans living in four separate children's centres in Kenskoff.

The orphans also face food shortages and poor hygienic facilities, as well as a shortage of classrooms and general maintenance problems in the centre, according to a news release issued by MINUSTAH.

"We are here to lend our support to the Haitian people, and this is also shown through food aid and medical care," said Major Thapa Ramkaji, adding that although the troops cannot meet all the children's desperate needs, "we try to make our contribution."

A donation, presented exclusively from the Nepalese contingent of MINUSTAH, included soy-based high energy biscuits and chocolate and new clothes.

This latest humanitarian aid effort outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince, was part of regular relief work conducted by MINUSTAH troops to provide assistance to the Caribbean nation's impoverished population.
Sep 1 2009 5:10PM
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NEW MILITARY CHIEF OF JOINT AFRICAN UNION-UN FORCE IN DARFUR BEGINS WORK

NEW MILITARY CHIEF OF JOINT AFRICAN UNION-UN FORCE IN DARFUR BEGINS WORK
New York, Sep 1 2009 4:10PM
The new Force Commander of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur formally assumed his duties today in the troubled western Sudanese region.

Rwandan Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba arrived in Darfur on 24 August and has spent the past week meeting peacekeeping troops and civilian staff serving with the mission, which is known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID.

Lt. Gen. Nyamvumba, 42, was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping in July to succeed Gen. Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria, who had served as Force Commander of UNAMID since its inception at the start of last year.

The new Force Commander has extensive leadership and operational experience, and most recently served as the chief of logistics in the Rwandan defence forces.

When it reaches full deployment, UNAMID should have more than 19,500 military personnel spread across Darfur, a remote and arid region that is bigger in size than Iraq. It is expecting to reach 97 per cent of its deployment numbers by the end of this year.
Sep 1 2009 4:10PM
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SIXTEEN SOMALIS DROWN MAKING HAZARDOUS JOURNEY ACROSS GULF OF ADEN

SIXTEEN SOMALIS DROWN MAKING HAZARDOUS JOURNEY ACROSS GULF OF ADEN
New York, Sep 1 2009 3:10PM
Sixteen Somalis died over the weekend trying to start fresh lives in Yemen, joining hundreds of others who have lost their lives this year making the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

The Somalis who perished this weekend died in two separate incidents involving smuggling boats.

In the first, survivors said that the vessel, which left Somalia's Bossaso port carrying over 40 people, capsized when smugglers pushed people overboard, pushing passengers to one side of the boat. Seven bodies were recovered by partners of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/4a9d228b9.html">UNHCR), while three people are still missing.

In the other incident, smugglers, fearing detection by Yemeni authorities, forced more than nearly 40 passengers to swim ashore, with three people drowning and three others missing and presumed dead.

Last year, over 50,000 new arrivals reached Yemen's shores, marking a 70 per cent increase from 2007, and 36,000 people have already arrived since this January.

Over 1,000 people drowned en route to Yemen in 2008, and already this year some 300 have died or are missing, according to UNHCR.

To respond to the potential influx of as many as 20,000 new arrivals, UNCHR and other agencies have been planning the provision of protection and assistance, as well as improving the capacity and conditions of reception centres.

On Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) today reported that civilians continue to be killed in the capital, Mogadishu, with at least 50 people losing their lives in the past week alone.

A UN report released late last month found that half of the Horn of Africa nation's population needs humanitarian assistance, noting that that the conflict engulfing Somalia is pushing increasing numbers of people into hunger.

The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fsausomali.org/">FAO/FSNAU) says that the crisis in Somalia is both widespread and severe, with some 3.76 people in need of humanitarian aid, up from 3.17 million in January.
Sep 1 2009 3:10PM
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UN REPORT PROPOSES NEW MARSHALL PLAN TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND SAVE THE PLANET

UN REPORT PROPOSES NEW MARSHALL PLAN TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND SAVE THE PLANET
New York, Sep 1 2009 2:10PM
A United Nations report launched today recommends a new Marshall Plan of more than $500 billion per year, or one per cent of global output, to help developing countries ease the impact of global warming and adjust to its effects while continuing on a path of economic growth.

"The science is clear. We need to drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions in order to protect the planet and avoid dangerous temperature rises globally," stressed Rob Vos, a Director of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

"If we do not significantly reduce emissions the damage to poor countries as a percentage of GDP [gross domestic product] will be up to more than 10 times greater than in the United States and most other developed countries," Mr. Vos told reporters in New York at the launch of the <i>2009 World Economic and Social Survey: Promoting Development, Saving the Planet</i>.

Mr. Vos noted that for every rise of one degree in global temperature, the annual average growth in developing countries drops betweens two and three percentage points with little impact on advanced countries.

However, to satisfy development needs, energy demands will have to rise in developing countries, posing a challenge in how to combine the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with economic objectives.

"To do this we will need huge adjustments in developed, but in particular developing countries," said Mr. Vos. "The transformation of energy services will be key… This will have to go hand-in-hand with large-scale interrelated investments in order to address simultaneously the climate change and development goals."

The <i>World Economic and Social Survey</i> suggests that market solutions, including the development of a carbon market, through "cap and trade" mechanisms or taxation schemes in developed countries, are not the solution for developing countries. Rather, it recommends a combination of large-scale investments and active government policy interventions for developing countries.

Among the possible multilateral measures in support of a global investment programme set out in the report is the creation of a global clean energy fund, a global feed-in tariff regime in support of renewable energy sources, a climate technology programme and a more balanced intellectual property regime for aiding the transfer of clean energy technology.

"We are suggesting that we need a globally funded public investment programme to allow developing countries to engage both in cleaner generation of energy and still meet their development objectives," said Mr. Vos.

"The ballpark figure that we think is needed would be one per cent of global output, [or] around $500 to $600 billion per year starting well within the coming decade, and not – as many other studies suggest – that those levels should be reached by 2030 or beyond."
Sep 1 2009 2:10PM
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AT-RISK REFUGEES GAIN TEMPORARY SANCTUARY IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER AGREEMENT WITH UN

AT-RISK REFUGEES GAIN TEMPORARY SANCTUARY IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER AGREEMENT WITH UN
New York, Sep 1 2009 2:10PM
The Philippines has become only the second country in the world to be formally designated as a transit country for at-risk refugees on their way to resettlement elsewhere under an agreement reached by the United Nations and the Asian nation.

The pact, signed last week in Manila by the Philippine Government, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/4a9be1526.html">UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), means individual refugees in danger will be able to find a temporary haven in the Philippines while en route to resettlement in a third country.

Under the agreement, the refugees may stay in the Philippines for up to six months before they are resettled elsewhere. A similar deal with UNHCR was struck with Romania in March this year.

Raymond Hall, UNHCR's regional coordinator for South-East Asia, praised the Philippines for setting what he described as "the protection benchmark in Asia." The country is one of the few in its region to have signed the 1951 Refugee Convention.

"It is providing significant space for individual refugees who otherwise would be in danger of refoulement [forced return to a country where a person faces possible persecution] or of other serious threats to their well-being," he said. "This will allow the onward resettlement process to be completed without such pressures and in a way that assures adequate protection."

UNHCR says it expects that it will mainly be refugees from other Asian countries who will be evacuated to the Philippines as a result of the agreement, but vulnerable people from other regions can also be sent there.
Sep 1 2009 2:10PM
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MORE THAN 90 COUNTRIES AGREE TO UN-BACKED TREATY TO STAMP OUT PIRATE FISHING

MORE THAN 90 COUNTRIES AGREE TO UN-BACKED TREATY TO STAMP OUT PIRATE FISHING
New York, Sep 1 2009 1:10PM
Some 91 countries have agreed to the final text of a United Nations-brokered treaty aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/29592/icode/">FAO) announced today.

The first ever global pact, which intends to block illicit fish catches from entering international markets, focuses on ending such violations as fishing without a licence, using illegal gear, disregarding fishing seasons, catching prohibited or undersized species, and fishing in closed areas.

"By frustrating responsible management, IUU fishing damages the productivity of fisheries, or leads to their collapse," said FAO Assistant-Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ichiro Nomura.

"That's a serious problem for the people who depend on them for food and income," stressed Mr. Nomura, noting that this "treaty represents a real, palpable advance in the ongoing effort to stamp it out."

The "Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing" commits countries to a number of measures to harden their ports against illegitimate fishers.

Foreign fishing boats will be required to request permission to dock from specially designated ports ahead of time, transmitting information on their activities and the fish they have on board. The treaty also mandates regular inspections and outlines a set of standards that will be used during those inspections, including reviews of ship papers, surveys of fishing gear, examining catches and checking a ship's records.

The treaty calls for information-sharing networks to allow communications to all national authorities about vessels that have been denied access to ports, and it contains provisions intended to assist resource-strapped developing countries meet their treaty obligations.

"Of course, the effectiveness of port state measures depends in large part on how well countries implement them," said David Doulman, an expert on the issue from the FAO. "So the focus now is to make sure that countries and other involved parties have the means and know-how to enforce it and are living up to their commitments."
Sep 1 2009 1:10PM
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NORTHERN YEMEN’S HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UNRAVELLING, WARNS UN REFUGEE AGENCY

NORTHERN YEMEN'S HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UNRAVELLING, WARNS UN REFUGEE AGENCY
New York, Sep 1 2009 1:10PM
Continuing clashes between Government forces and rebels have trapped civilians inside a city in northern Yemeni city, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) reported today, stressing that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating daily.

"We are gravely concerned about the fate and well-being of the civilian population" stranded in Sa'ada city, the capital of the governorate of the same name next to Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia, as fighting rages there between Government troops and the Shiite rebel group known as Al Houthi, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic <"http://www.unhcr.org/4a9d214c9.html">told reporters in Geneva today.

Over 35,000 people have been driven out of their homes in and around the city, and the agency put the total number of people uprooted since an earlier wave of fighting broke out in 2004 at 150,000.

Those who managed to escape the besieged city and UNHCR staff on the ground have reported that frequent air strikes have sent people fleeing to other parts of Sa'ada to seek refuge and place burdens on neighbours, friends and relatives.

There is a 12-hour curfew in place limiting the movement of both the local population and internally displaced persons (IDPs), while food supplies are running low and black market prices have soared in many of the districts affected by fighting, Mr. Mahecic said.

"With worsening of the situation in the north, the opening of humanitarian corridors in northern Yemen that would allow civilians to leave the conflict zone and humanitarian workers to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced people in this remote part of the country is a top priority for UNHCR," he added.

Other districts in Sa'ada governorate have also been blockaded by the violence, liming the movement of people, goods and services. In the neighbouring Hajjah governorate, UNHCR and local authorities are organizing assistance, trucking in water and gathering garbage at camp sites for IDPs.

The agency urgently needs $5 million to respond to the emergency in northern Yemen, with the funds earmarked for providing protection and urgently-needed aid for 70,000 uprooted people over the next four months in Sa'ada and other affected governorates.

"UNHCR also appeals to the generosity of the international community and the Muslim world in particular, to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis displaced by the recent fighting especially during this holy month of Ramadan – a period of solidarity and sharing," Mr. Mahecic said.

Tomorrow, John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will launch a flash appeal for Yemen aimed at helping 150,000 people, it was announced today.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP) today also called for access to displaced people, with the number of people it was able to reach plummeting from 95,000 in July to just 10,000 last month.

Nearly all of the agency's staff has been evacuated from Sa'ada, where nearly 100 tons of food supplies – enough to feed 60,000 people for one month – are in stock.

WFP estimates it needs almost $7 million to fund its operations in Sa'ada until the end of the year.

Echoing the calls by UNHCR and WFP for safe corridors to be opened up, the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) warned that lack of access is preventing people injured by fighting from receiving treatment.

The agency, which is working outside the conflict zone to treat those who fled fighting, also cautioned that the threat of measles, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases is high.
Sep 1 2009 1:10PM
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SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PEACEFUL POLLS IN GABON

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PEACEFUL POLLS IN GABON
New York, Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the peaceful presidential elections in Gabon, calling on the people of the African nation to continue supporting the democratic process.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp">statement issued by his spokesperson yesterday, Mr. Ban urged all Gabonese "to ensure the will of the people is respected."

He also asked the people to heed the appeal by Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé "for calm and responsibility" as the votes from the 30 August polls are counted.

In June, the Secretary-General paid tribute to the late Gabonese president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, underscoring "the key role he played in the search for peace and stability not only in the Central Africa subregion, but also in other parts of the continent," according to a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3909">statement.
Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
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BAN GETS FIRST-HAND VIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE’S EFFECTS IN ARCTIC RIM

BAN GETS FIRST-HAND VIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE'S EFFECTS IN ARCTIC RIM
New York, Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
Walking the Arctic ice rim today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon got a first-hand view of the impact of climate change, with less than 100 days remaining before the start of the United Nations conference where nations are set to reach a new agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Having departed the Norwegian capital, Oslo, yesterday, Mr. Ban made his way to the Svalbard archipelago, where today he visited research stations and met with scientists, who updated him on the latest science regarding ice-melting.

"I will try to deliver a clear strong message from my visit to the North Pole," he told reporters yesterday, underscoring that only 15 days of negotiations remain before the start of December's climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where countries are expected to wrap up negotiations on a new pact to go into effect when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period ends in 2012.

"Now is the time for decision-making," the Secretary-General stressed. "We must seal a deal in Copenhagen for a global, equitable and comprehensive deal for the future of humanity and the future of Planet Earth."
Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
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TOP UN OFFICIAL IN AFGHANISTAN CALLS FOR NATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN PEACE CAMPAIGN

TOP UN OFFICIAL IN AFGHANISTAN CALLS FOR NATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN PEACE CAMPAIGN
New York, Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has urged the entire nation to join an ambitious three-week-long peace campaign, which kicked off today when Afghan celebrities, UN staff and civil society representatives held hands at simultaneous events in cities throughout the country.

The 'What Are You Doing for Peace in Afghanistan?' campaign runs until International Peace Day on 21 September and features numerous initiatives by individual citizens and groups, as well as a polio immunization drive that aims to reach millions of children in some of the most insecure areas in the country.

"I call on all to take part in this campaign for peace," <"http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1741&ctl=Details&mid=1882&ItemID=5457">said Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://unama.unmissions.org/default.aspx?/ ">UNAMA).

"There is a huge demand for peace," he added at the ceremony, which is being launched at a time of heightened conflict in the strife-torn country. The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is responding to hundreds of objections received following last month's historic presidential and provincial council elections.

"UNAMA is today calling on all those working for peace in Afghanistan to come together in a massive effort for peace that everyone across Afghanistan and outside this country sees," Mr. Eide stressed.

Since their launch in 2007, Afghanistan's peace campaigns have become entirely apolitical annual events, which are open to any individual or organization, and serve to promote openings for reconciliation and humanitarian access, according to a news release issued by UNAMA.

Previous campaigns in 2007 and 2008 brought together thousands of Afghan groups, businesses, individuals, and international celebrities in efforts resulting in 3.4 million children vaccinated against polio.

UN Peace Ambassador and Golden Globe Award winner Seddiq Barmak said that "years of war and bloodshed are roaring – the love through the smoke and flames of this war has changed to hatred. Let's come together to cultivate the seeds of love and affection. Forgiveness and reaching out hands to each other will create peace."
Sep 1 2009 10:10AM
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