UN EXPERTS ADVANCE PLANS FOR WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR

UN EXPERTS ADVANCE PLANS FOR WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR
New York, Oct 1 2009 6:10PM
A plan to develop a biodiversity corridor across the border between Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia will be the focus of discussions to be held in Abidjan next week in cooperation the United Nations and other organizations.

Hosted by the Ivorian Minister of Environment, Water and Forests, the meeting on 5-6 October is part of a transnational initiative launched by the UN-led Great Apes Survival Partnership (<"http://www.unep.org/grasp/">GRASP) and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF).

Among other objectives, the meeting aims to advance the idea of a biodiversity corridor between two large blocks of forest in the Upper Guinean Forest Region: the Sapo National Park in Liberia and the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire.

The area is home to the largest block of a relatively intact tropical rainforest in West Africa, and to more than a quarter of Africa's mammals, including 12 species of primates, important chimpanzee populations, as well as endemic species such as pygmy hippos and forest elephants.

The meeting will bring together representatives of various stakeholder groups from both countries, including senior government officials, forestry and environment ministries, major international donors, development agencies, private sector and research institutions, indigenous populations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

They will discuss environmental conservation goals that simultaneously enhance stability, human security, sustainable development and long-term economic benefits in a conflict-prone region.

The initiative is financed and supported by the European Union (EU), the French Fund for World Environment (FFEM), STEWARD (Thriving & Sustainable Environments for West African Regional Development), and the WCF.
Oct 1 2009 6:10PM
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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEPLORES VIOLATIONS IN HONDURAS FOLLOWING COUP

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEPLORES VIOLATIONS IN HONDURAS FOLLOWING COUP
New York, Oct 1 2009 6:10PM
Strongly condemning the coup d'état in Honduras in June, the Human Rights Council today called for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the Central American country and an immediate end to all violations of human rights.

Council members, meeting in Geneva, adopted a resolution in which they expressed concern about the ongoing situation in Honduras, particularly in the wake of the return of President José Manuel Zelaya to the country on 21 September.

Mr. Zelaya sought shelter in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, after he returned, and since then the authorities who took power in June have curtailed media outlets and restricted the supply of food, water and electricity to the embassy.

The resolution, which was adopted without a vote, calls for "unconditional respect" for all human rights and fundamental freedoms in Honduras and stresses the need for all sides to refrain from violence and to respect the rule of law.

The text also voices support for regional efforts to restore the democratic order in Honduras and asks UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to present a comprehensive report on the situation since the coup occurred.

The resolution on Honduras was one of 15 adopted by the Council today, along with two decisions, on issues ranging from the elimination of discrimination against people affected by leprosy to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
Oct 1 2009 6:10PM
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TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES COULD DELAY LONG-AWAITED IVORIAN POLLS – UN ENVOY

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES COULD DELAY LONG-AWAITED IVORIAN POLLS – UN ENVOY
New York, Oct 1 2009 5:10PM
The top United Nations official in Cote d'Ivoire warned today that technical difficulties may adversely affect the timeline for the country's long-awaited presidential elections, which were to have been held as far back as 2005, and are now scheduled for 29 November.

Young-Jin Choi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI), said that two months have already been lost, but he noted some successful political developments, such as the establishment of mobile court hearings across the country and the end of voter registration.

He noted that there is now a very optimistic atmosphere in Côte d'Ivoire, with a very strong electoral momentum that would be difficult to break. "The election is just around the corner and you can even feel it," he said in an interview with UN Radio.

UNOCI has been providing technical and logistical support for preparations for the elections, including for voter identification and registration.

More than 6.5 million people have been registered for the upcoming polls, a key element of the agreement for political reconciliation in the West African country, which was divided in 2002 between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north.

In his recent report on UNOCI, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the weeks remaining until the elections are fraught with major obstacles, including disarmament of militias and reintegration of former rebels.

These "uncompleted tasks" could "create serious risks for the elections if they are not carefully managed, and, beyond the elections, adversely affect the prevailing stability," Mr. Ban stated, calling for the parties to maintain dialogue and compromise in the run-up to the elections.
Oct 1 2009 5:10PM
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TIME FOR WORLD TO ACT COLLECTIVELY ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO AVOID CATASTROPHE, WARNS BAN

TIME FOR WORLD TO ACT COLLECTIVELY ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO AVOID CATASTROPHE, WARNS BAN
New York, Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised Sweden for using its Presidency of the European Union to spotlight the potentially catastrophic threat posed by climate change, urging world leaders to follow suit by advancing negotiations on a new and ambitious greenhouse gas reduction treaty.

"If ever there were a time to act in a spirit of renewed multilateralism… it is now," Mr. Ban said in <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4124">speech at Uppsala University, Sweden, the historic alma mater of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and renowned research institute for peace and conflict studies.

"Our world has a fever," said Mr. Ban quoting the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt from his address last week at the UN, speaking on behalf of the EU about climate change.

Welcoming Sweden's efforts to combat climate change, Mr. Ban noted that the levies the Scandinavian country imposes on fossil fuel use and a report its climate commission presented to him in May, among other initiatives, have backed his own drive to push leaders into sealing a deal on a climate change pact at a conference in Copenhagen this December.

"I have been deeply concerned about the glacial pace of progress in those talks," he said. "The summit I convened last week in New York has put some wind in our sails, but the road ahead requires more pushing and hard work."

Mr. Ban warned that the world's leading scientists have concluded that "we have less than 10 years to avoid the worst-case scenarios projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [<"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC]. The most vulnerable nations tell us their very survival will soon be at risk.

"Private businesses and insurers are eager for the incentives and signals that will unleash investment and innovation," said Mr. Ban.

He encouraged all nations to rise to the challenge set by Japan by pledging to cut its emissions to 25 per cent below 1990 levels within 10 years, and noted that China also made significant commitments at the New York summit – the largest ever climate change gathering of heads of State.

"Now we need a breakthrough," said Mr. Ban. "That is why I am here in Sweden, and why I will be pressing world leaders day in and day out in the run-up to Copenhagen.

"The fever is rising," Mr. Ban said, again quoting the Swedish Prime Minister. "Unaddressed or handled with only half measures, accelerating climate change will also undermine development."

At a joint <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1328">news conference with the Swedish Prime Minister today, Mr. Ban said he was counting on the leadership of Mr. Reinfeldt and his EU counterparts in meeting the many challenges facing the world, including climate change.

"I was very impressed by the passion and commitment demonstrated by young leaders, school children and college students," he said, referring to teenagers he met who were taking part in a UN-organized video competition on the impact of climate change.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General is slated to meet the Speaker of Parliament in Stockholm, as well as various political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) before travelling later to Copenhagen for a working dinner with the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and a meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge.
Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
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DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN DPR KOREA JEOPARDIZES HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS BAN

DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN DPR KOREA JEOPARDIZES HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS BAN
New York, Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the impact of the humanitarian situation on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), where over one third of the nearly 24 million-strong population is in need of food assistance.

The Asian nation's humanitarian problems – including food shortages, a crumbling health system and lack of access to safe drinking water – seriously "hamper the fulfilment of human rights of the population," Mr. Ban wrote in a new report to the General Assembly.

A joint report by the United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) released last December estimated that nearly 9 million people could be hungry due to a shortage in cereals in the DPRK this year.

Even with commercial imports, the country will face a cereal deficit of over 800,000 tons, according to the <"http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/ai475e/ai475e00.htm">FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission, the first such comprehensive mission conducted since 2004.

In July, WFP announced that it is being forced to scale back its emergency operation to reach 6 million hungry and vulnerable people in the DPRK due to a severe lack of funding. Of the $504 million needed for the programme, only $75 million has been received so far, allowing the agency to reach only 2.3 million people.

"With 70 per cent of the population dependent on the public distribution system, it is a matter of concern that Government officials are reporting declining rations," with portions not even meeting one third of daily energy requirements, Mr. Ban said.

Urban households, which have been impacted by lower salaries and employment due to the recession, have been the hardest hit by the shortage in food, the new publication noted.

The Secretary-General said he is concerned at the continued decline in food assistance provided by the international community in the face of worsening food shortages.

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) reported that malnourishment among children and women is linked to a limited food supply. The agency noted that while it can "mitigate this problem to some extent through multiple interventions, the structural and other constraints to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger continue to be challenging."

The report also stressed that the DPRK Government has not taken steps to improve human rights, with Mr. Ban characterizing the rights situation in the country as "grave."
Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
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SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS UN CONDEMNATION OF KILLING OF GUINEA PROTESTERS

SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS UN CONDEMNATION OF KILLING OF GUINEA PROTESTERS
New York, Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
The Security Council has added its voice to widespread United Nations condemnation of this week's killing or wounding of hundreds of civilian demonstrators at an opposition rally in Guinea, where some of the protesters were raped by members of the security forces.

Council members voiced their "utmost concern" at reports that security forces killed at least 150 people when they opened fire at the rally, according to a press statement read out yesterday by Ambassador Susan Rice of the United States on behalf of the 15-member panel.

The Council deplored numerous "blatant violations of human rights, including rapes in public streets in broad daylight," as well as the arrest of opposition party leaders, Ms. Rice said.

The statement urged authorities in Guinea to put an end to the violence, bring the perpetrators to justice and release all political prisoners, and it also called for a prompt return to the rule of law, democracy and constitutional order through elections scheduled for next year.

The Council statement joins similar expressions of condemnation from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who has described the scenes at the rally in the Guinean capital, Conakry, as "a blood bath."

The International Contact Group on Guinea, which includes Said Djinnit, the head of the UN Office for West Africa (<"http://www.un.org/unowa/">UNOWA) and the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the region, has also been insisting on a swift return to constitutional order following the seizing of power last December by Army Captain Moussa Dadis Camara in the wake of the death of Guinea's long-time president Lansana Conté.

The Security Council, Mr. Ban and the contact group have also stressed the need for members of the military junta, the National Council for Democracy and Development (known by its French acronym, CNDD), to not participate in next year's election, in line with an earlier commitment given by the junta.
Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
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INSECURITY AND CLASHES IN NORTHERN YEMEN KEEP AID FROM THOUSANDS IN NEED – UN

INSECURITY AND CLASHES IN NORTHERN YEMEN KEEP AID FROM THOUSANDS IN NEED – UN
New York, Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
Insecurity and sporadic clashes in and around the northern Yemeni town of Sa'ada are impeding aid delivery to thousands of trapped civilians and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have not received help since the conflict escalated six weeks ago, the United Nations reported today.

"Given the access limitations and geographical spread of the IDPs in all four governorates affected by the conflict, it has been very difficult to assess the full scope of displacement up to now, and to provide sufficient relief to those in need," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) said of the fighting between the Government and rebels, which has driven some 150,000 people from their homes.

Over the past week, registration efforts have continued in relatively secure areas that are accessible to the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGO) partners.

The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP), through its implementing partner Islamic Relief Yemen, has distributed 481 metric tons of food to some 32,200 beneficiaries in Hajjah and Sa'ada governorates. No distributions have so far taken place in Amran and Al-Jawf governorates, but as soon as access is possible and the security situation allows, Islamic Relief Yemen will undertake distributions in the area, OCHA said.

In Haradh in Hajjah governorate, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) has, together with the local council, set up water, sanitation and hygiene services at Al-Mazrak camp, and aided some 420 IDPs outside the camp. Each IDP family has received one hygiene kit.

The UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/public/">UNFPA) has helped set up five fixed-delivery points and recruit two mobile teams, each with a physician, midwife and lab technicians to provide minimum initial services.

The $23.7-million Yemen 'flash appeal' is less than 2 per cent funded a full month after it was launched, with the United States contributing $250,000 and Ireland $143,885 to UNICEF. Pledges of $23.7 million have been received but they still need to be confirmed. In addition, the US has provided US$2.5 million to WFP for food assistance outside of the appeal's framework.
Oct 1 2009 3:10PM
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ZIMBABWE LAUNCHES LANDMARK PLAN TO REDUCE IMPACT OF H1N1 – UN

ZIMBABWE LAUNCHES LANDMARK PLAN TO REDUCE IMPACT OF H1N1 – UN
New York, Oct 1 2009 2:10PM
Zimbabwe has become the first country to launch a landmark plan, known as the "Call to Action," outlining key steps to reduce the threat posed by the H1N1 flu pandemic, the United Nations health agency has announced.

More than 300,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu have been reported in 191 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO), in addition to nearly 4,000 deaths.

Zimbabwe was chosen as the first country to apply the Call to Action because of the experiences faced, and lessons learned, from its 2008-09 cholera outbreak that infected almost 100,000 people and killed 4,000, WHO said in a news release.

"The country has learned a lot from the cholera outbreak," <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-7WDQWY?OpenDocument">said Custodia Mandlhate, WHO's Representative to Zimbabwe. "It has developed systems that will prevent a cholera outbreak of such a scale ever happening again. And the same system will be instrumental in protecting the public from the impact of this new H1N1 pandemic."

One of the main principles of the Call to Action is that the impact of the pandemic is likely to be more severe in countries with weak health systems, poor health status, and limited resources.

It describes measures to identify populations at increased risk of disease and death, to reduce death by treating acute respiratory illness and pneumonia, to reduce the spread of the disease, to continue critical services and plan for the worst case scenario, and to plan and coordinate efforts among all actors.

Zimbabwe has drawn up its own proposed H1N1 pandemic preparedness and response plan and has committed, at the end of a two-day meeting held in Harare yesterday, to apply the measures laid out in the Call to Action to its own national plan.

The Call to Action was first launched in August and was initiated by WHO, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Oct 1 2009 2:10PM
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UN CULTURAL BODY SEEKS TO SAVE DRONE SINGING AND OTHER DYING TRADITIONS

UN CULTURAL BODY SEEKS TO SAVE DRONE SINGING AND OTHER DYING TRADITIONS
New York, Oct 1 2009 2:10PM
A new United Nations-backed initiative to prevent age-old cultural practices from dying out was launched today, with traditions ranging from Latvian female drone singing to a collective fishing rite in Mali becoming eligible for funding to ensure their survival.

They were among 12 practices from eight countries inscribed on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46527&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The Committee considered the traditions to be endangered despite the efforts of communities or groups concerned. Countries involved will now implement specific safeguarding plans, with the practices eligible for financial assistance from a special fund.

Traditions to be safeguarded include the "Suiti cultural space" of a small Catholic community in predominantly Lutheran western Latvia, characterized by vocal female drone singing, wedding customs, colourful costumes, the Suiti language, local cuisine, and folk songs, dances and melodies, at present only familiar to a few, mostly older people.

Droning comes in for protection in Mongolia, too, where Tsuur music of the Uriankhai, simultaneously blending sounds from a three-holed pipe and the human throat, has faded due to neglect and disrespect of folk customs and religion. Touching the Tsuur mouthpiece with the front teeth and applying the throat produces a unique timbre comprising a clear, gentle whistling sound with a drone.

Two other Mongolian practices are earmarked – Biyelgee ethnic dances in Khovd and Uvs provinces, embodying the nomadic way of life and typically confined to the small space inside the ger (tent); and the Tuuli oral tradition of heroic epics that can run to thousands of verses of benedictions, eulogies, spells, myths and folk songs.

Other practices inscribed today include the Kalyady Tsars (Christmas Tsars) ritual in Semezhava, Belarus; the Qiang New Year Festival, wooden arch bridge design, and Li textile techniques of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering, all in China; Ca trù singing, a complex form of sung poetry in northern Viet Nam; and Cantu in paghjella, a male singing tradition combining three vocal registers in Corsica, France.

African traditions include the Sanké mon collective fishing rite in Mali on the second Thursday of the seventh lunar month, combining the sacrifice of roosters and goats to the water spirits of Sanké pond, followed by collective fishing over 15 hours and a masked dance; and oral traditions and performing arts of the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda, Kenya, which are also sources of valuable medicinal plants.

Yesterday the Committee inscribed 76 traditions from around the world, including the tango, religious processions and fertility dances on UNESCO's the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Oct 1 2009 2:10PM
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INDONESIA: UN ASSESSMENT TEAMS TO SURVEY DAMAGE WREAKED BY DEADLY QUAKES

INDONESIA: UN ASSESSMENT TEAMS TO SURVEY DAMAGE WREAKED BY DEADLY QUAKES
New York, Oct 1 2009 12:10PM
The United Nations is rushing teams to Indonesia to survey the damage in the wake of a massive earthquake, as a senior official with the world body called for global unity in responding to a series of deadly natural disasters that have struck Asia in recent days.

A quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the island of Sumatra on Wednesday, followed by other strong quakes. Hundreds of people have been killed, although that number is expected to increase, with thousands trapped under rubble and still more left homeless.

A UN inter-agency team has arrived in the city of Padang in Sumatra, while a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1414">UNDAC) mission is set to arrive tomorrow.

The Indonesian Government has said it welcomes international assistance, with telecommunication, electricity and water supplies having been cut off. Roads have been cut off due to landslides.

Medical supplies, petrol, generators, sanitation equipment, food and shelter equipment have been identified as priority needs.

Also struck by devastating disasters this week are the Philippines, where hundreds of people have been killed by a typhoon, and islands across the South Pacific, including Samoa, where more than 100 people have been killed by a deadly tsunami.

"When nature strikes with such force, the world must come together," Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP), said in a <"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/statement-wfp-executive-director-josette-sheeran-spate-natural-disasters-asia">statement.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered his condolences to victims of the Indonesian quake and their families in his own statement, adding that he is closely following reports of the impact of the disaster.
Oct 1 2009 12:10PM
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UNESCO CHIEF DISTRESSED BY LOSS OF LIFE IN WAKE OF PACIFIC ISLAND TSUNAMI

UNESCO CHIEF DISTRESSED BY LOSS OF LIFE IN WAKE OF PACIFIC ISLAND TSUNAMI
New York, Oct 1 2009 11:10AM
Voicing great concern over the death toll following the tsunami that struck a group of islands in the South Pacific on Tuesday, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) urged governments to strengthen efforts to protect coastal communities.

At least 117 people are confirmed dead in Samoa, and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, according to information provided to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which expects the number to rise.

There are also unconfirmed reports of 19 fatalities in Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, OCHA said yesterday.

A four-member UN disaster assessment and coordination (UNDAC) team has arrived in Samoa, which has suffered extensive damage to homes, community buildings, resorts, roads, power lines and water supply close to coastal areas.

The survivors of the tsunami, which reportedly sent waves as high as six metres crashing down on the islands, are in urgent need of emergency medical care along with water, food, and shelter, OCHA said.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said he was "deeply distressed by the losses provoked by this most recent tsunami in the Pacific Ocean," in a message released by the agency.

"National authorities must maintain and constantly improve their communications and warning systems to help protect coastal populations, which are inevitably vulnerable to such phenomena," said Mr. Matsuura.

He said that while the UNESCO-coordinated early warning system clearly raised the alarm 16 minutes after the earthquake struck, there was not time for coastal populations to evacuate.

Mr. Matsuura said that the tragic deaths of 29 September underscored the importance for governments to improve emergency response mechanisms and public awareness so that all communities benefit from the advance warning that is available at the regional level.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) also announced that they will dispatch emergency relief staff in the area to help with recovery efforts.
Oct 1 2009 11:10AM
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BASIC FREEDOMS RESTRICTED IN CAMBODIA, UN RIGHTS EXPERT REPORTS

BASIC FREEDOMS RESTRICTED IN CAMBODIA, UN RIGHTS EXPERT REPORTS
New York, Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
An independent United Nations expert today voiced concern about the human rights situation in Cambodia, noting in particular that the judiciary is not as independent as it should be and the basic freedoms of expression and assembly are being restricted.

Reporting to the UN Human Rights Council, Surya Subedi called for improvements to the overall human rights situation in the South-East Asian nation.

"The rule of law is weak in the country. The judiciary is not as independent as it should be. Some of the core political rights such as the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly have been undermined," said the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.

Mr. Subedi noted that the country's defamation laws have gone beyond what is a permissible level of restriction on freedom of expression under the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Cambodia is a party.

He added that the spirit of the provisions guaranteeing freedom of speech in international human rights treaties is to treat any matters relating to restrictions on such freedom, including defamation issues, under civil law rather than criminal law unless such matters are of a grave nature and pose a threat to national security or public order.

Also of concern is the issue of impunity and land evictions, which he said have not been addressed as thoroughly as they should be.

Nevertheless, he said he is encouraged by the fact that the Government is willing to constructively engage with him and other UN human rights entities, calling it "a major step in the right direction."

He added that the Council should encourage the Government to take concrete action to implement its obligations under various human rights treaties under a strict timeframe.

Mr. Subedi, like all Special Rapporteurs, carries out his mandate in an independent and unpaid capacity, and reports to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.
Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
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UN AGENCY WIDENS ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD SURVIVORS IN PHILIPPINES

UN AGENCY WIDENS ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD SURVIVORS IN PHILIPPINES
New York, Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP) is expanding its relief operation to help hundreds of thousands of flood victims in the Philippines who are trying to cope with the effects of last week's devastating typhoon.

An estimated 2.5 million people have been affected by the deadly storm, more than half of whom have been made homeless.

"This is a catastrophe for the people of the Philippines and our hearts go out to them," <"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/w?-boosts-philippines-relief-efforts-reach-growing-number-storm-victims">said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

The Government has launched a massive relief operation and asked for international assistance. WFP is helping authorities to ensure that those in need are receiving food and other essential supplies.

The agency said today that it aims to reach 1 million people with food aid this month. It is beginning to distribute almost 750 metric tonnes of rice in the worst-hit areas, including the capital, Manila.

It is also deploying helicopters and boats to allow both the Government and humanitarian agencies to carry out their life-saving activities in hard-to-reach areas and hand out supplies.

The helicopters are also intended to relocate vulnerable people in low-lying areas, as well as to carry out assessments of damage to infrastructure.

The UN will coordinate a flash appeal which will be launched tomorrow, and Ms. Sheeran voiced hope that donors will assist WFP and other groups in supporting the Government's relief efforts.

Earlier this week, a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team found that poor drainage systems and garbage disposal problems aggravated the impact of Typhoon Ondoy, known internationally as Ketsana, stressing the need for governments to make greater investments before other catastrophes strike.
Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
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ASYLUM SYSTEMS IN SOME COUNTRIES INEFFECTIVE, WARNS SENIOR UN REFUGEE OFFICIAL

ASYLUM SYSTEMS IN SOME COUNTRIES INEFFECTIVE, WARNS SENIOR UN REFUGEE OFFICIAL
New York, Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
Despite some improvements over the past year, asylum systems in some countries remain ineffective and unresponsive, the top protection official with the United Nations refugee agency has warned.

Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller said this was "in spite of substantial investment in capacity building, with many lacking sufficient procedural or protection safeguards, perhaps to serve a deterrent function."

In her annual address to the executive body of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ms. Feller that despite some improvements, insecurity and narrowing protection space are prevalent in too many countries.

Among the issues of concern, according to a news release from the agency, are remote and isolated location of reception centres for asylum-seekers, limited access to and low quality of state legal aid and interpretation services, absence of time limits for detention and insufficient number of procedural guarantees for vulnerable groups.

She said one of the more disturbing general trends is the increasing number of unaccompanied and separated children seeking asylum.

"Systems are often created with adult beneficiaries in mind, thereby exposing children to totally inappropriate or damaging situations," said Ms. Feller. "No matter what their status, children must be treated as children first and their best interests professionally identified and respected."

The Assistant High Commissioner added that for many refugees, "asylum conditions can prove as devastating an experience in some situations as the circumstances which forced them into exile."

She noted the conditions in Kenya's Dadaab site – the biggest refugee camp complex in the world – which in include massive congestion, inadequate reception or registration systems, poor health and sanitation conditions and a worrying level of malnutrition.

"One can but wonder how, in these conditions, it can be said that asylum is providing real or meaningful human security," she said.

At the same time, she did note some positive developments, including the return of 600,000 refugees to their homes last year.

A "most praise-worthy development," she added, was the naturalization of more than 12,000 long-term refugees living in Tanzania.
Oct 1 2009 10:10AM
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UN OFFICIALS CALL FOR GREATER STATE SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

UN OFFICIALS CALL FOR GREATER STATE SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY ON INTERNATIONAL DAY
New York, Oct 1 2009 9:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today led a call for governments to build inclusive societies that emphasize participation, self-fulfilment, independence, care and dignity for people of all ages, especially the elderly.

In a message marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, observed annually on 1 October, Mr. Ban noted that the motto "towards a society for all ages" was adopted in 1999 and reaffirmed at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002.

"We have campaigned for policies that will enable older persons to live in an environment that enhances their capabilities, fosters their independence, and provides them with adequate support and care as they age," said Mr. Ban.

He stressed that this emphasis takes on even greater importance as the world struggles to confront global food, energy, climate, financial and economic crises.

"We must put an end to age discrimination, abuse, neglect and violence against older persons," said Mr. Ban. "I urge states to put the necessary legal protections in place, and I urge all partners to help countries develop the capacity and institutions to achieve this objective."

United Nations Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda, underscored the importance of Government-run social pension schemes and protection systems, in her message for the Day.

"It is high time to kill the myth of pensions being unaffordable for poor countries," said Ms. Sepúlveda, noting that non-contributory pensions are the simplest way to keep older persons out of poverty.

"We only need to look at the achievements in any of the 46 middle- and low-income countries that have social pensions," she said. "Social pensions not only improve the living conditions of older persons, but also that of their families. So they benefit society as a whole."

Ms. Sepúlveda said that four other persons benefit from a social pension on average, which in turn contributes to the economic development of poor communities. Children living with pensioners tend to be better nourished and more likely to attend school than those living with older relatives where no pension scheme exists.

"Most States have been neglecting for years their obligations under the right to social security, for example by not ensuring that poor people who worked in the informal economy all their lives can count on a basic, non-contributory, pension," said Ms. Sepúlveda. "Older people deserve more."
Oct 1 2009 9:10AM
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