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  • UN DAILY NEWS

    UN DAILY NEWS from the
    UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

    26 February, 2008 ==============================<wbr>=============== ===============<wbr>=============


    DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS ON THE RISE, UN HEALTH AGENCY SAYS

    Rates of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis ? which takes longer to treat and requires more expensive drugs that have potentially serious side effects ? are at an all-time high, according to a new report by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).

    The study, entitled ?Anti-Tuberculosis Drub Resistance in the World,? is the largest ever on the scale of drub resistance and is based on information collected between 2002 and 2006 on 90,000 TB patients in 81 countries.

    The agency estimates that there are nearly half a million new cases of multi-drug-resistant TB, known as MDR-TB, annually worldwide, accounting for 5 per cent of the 9 million new cases every year.

    ?TB drug assistance needs a frontal assault,? said Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO?s Stop TB Department. ?If countries and the international community fail to address it aggressively now we will lose this battle.?

    The highest rate of MDR-TB was found in Azerbaijan?s capital Baku, where nearly one quarter of all new TB cases were reported to be multi-drug-resistant. WHO said that this type of TB is also widespread in Moldova; Donetsk, Ukraine; Tomsk Oblast, Russia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and China.

    The report also spotted ties between HIV infection and MDR-TB, with surveys in Latvia and Donetsk, Ukraine, noting that the rate of MDR-TB is twice as high among tuberculosis patients living with HIV than it is among those without HIV. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFor the first time, the worldwide survey\nincluded analysis of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, or XDR-TB,\nwhich is virtually untreatable. It has been recorded in 45 countries, but\nbecause few countries are currently equipped to diagnose it, limited data\nwere available for inclusion in the current WHO study. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe agency reported notable successes, such\nas Estonia and Latvia, which were deemed MDR-TB ?hotspots? more than\na dozen years ago but whose rates are now stabilizing. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHowever, given that only six countries in\nAfrica ? the continent with the highest incidence of TB globally ? were\nable to submit data for the report, WHO pointed out that the magnitude\nof the respiratory disease in some parts of the world remains unknown.\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?It is likely there are outbreaks of drug\nresistance going unnoticed and undetected,? said WHO tuberculosis expert\nAbigail Wright, the report?s principal author. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eDISPLACED DARFURIANS MOVING TO NEW CAMP,\nOTHERS FLEE TO CHAD, UN SAYS\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAs violence continues to rage in Sudan?s\nDarfur region, a group of 500 villagers who fled their homes two weeks\nago will find refuge at a newly opened camp outside El Geneina, the capital\nof West Darfur state, the United Nations refugee agency announced today.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?The group, many of whom fled the village\nof Saraf Jedad to Armankul earlier this year, are part of a larger group\nof 222 families ? some 1,000 people ? who were displaced for a second\ntime and are in need of emergency assistance,? William Spindler, spokesman\nfor the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said at a press conference\nin Geneva.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMeanwhile, UNHCR is taking part in joint\nUN follow-up assessment missions to areas in which displaced populations\nare gradually returning, despite the destruction which followed attacks\nin the northern corridor, north of El Geneina, earlier this month.",1] ); //--></script>

    For the first time, the worldwide survey included analysis of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, or XDR-TB, which is virtually untreatable. It has been recorded in 45 countries, but because few countries are currently equipped to diagnose it, limited data were available for inclusion in the current WHO study.

    The agency reported notable successes, such as Estonia and Latvia, which were deemed MDR-TB ?hotspots? more than a dozen years ago but whose rates are now stabilizing.

    However, given that only six countries in Africa ? the continent with the highest incidence of TB globally ? were able to submit data for the report, WHO pointed out that the magnitude of the respiratory disease in some parts of the world remains unknown.

    ?It is likely there are outbreaks of drug resistance going unnoticed and undetected,? said WHO tuberculosis expert Abigail Wright, the report?s principal author.


    * * *

    DISPLACED DARFURIANS MOVING TO NEW CAMP, OTHERS FLEE TO CHAD, UN SAYS

    As violence continues to rage in Sudan?s Darfur region, a group of 500 villagers who fled their homes two weeks ago will find refuge at a newly opened camp outside El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, the United Nations refugee agency announced today.

    ?The group, many of whom fled the village of Saraf Jedad to Armankul earlier this year, are part of a larger group of 222 families ? some 1,000 people ? who were displaced for a second time and are in need of emergency assistance,? William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said at a press conference in Geneva.

    Meanwhile, UNHCR is taking part in joint UN follow-up assessment missions to areas in which displaced populations are gradually returning, despite the destruction which followed attacks in the northern corridor, north of El Geneina, earlier this month. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAs part of such assessments, the Special\nRepresentative for the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),\nRodolphe Adada, visited the town of Silea in West Darfur, to explore avenues\nof hastening delivery of assistance to the region.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?You have been caught in the middle of a\nwar and it is our duty to take care of you,? Mr. Adada told some 200 residents\nof the town. ?We hope to establish a safe place from where the humanitarian\ncommunity can operate and provide the assistance needed,? he added.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAt his Geneva press conference, Mr. Spindler\nexplained that most of the civilians driven out by the recent air raids\nin the northern corridor are going to other villages or have been hiding\nin the Jebel Moun mountains, while others are attempting the dangerous\njourney into Chad.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?According to our team at the border, more\npeople have crossed into Chad over the past weekend, following renewed\nattacks on Jebel Moun in West Darfur,? he said. ?The latest arrivals\nare mainly women, children and elderly people and they are extremely traumatized.\nOur team noticed that refugees who were right at the border a week ago\nhave moved further to safer areas into Chad, away from the volatile border.?\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian\nAffairs (OCHA) said today that the continued humanitarian crisis in eastern\nChad remained of grave concern. ?There are over 250,000 Sudanese refugees\nand over 180,000 internally displaced persons in eastern Chad, the vast\nmajority of whom are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid for their survival,?\nEliane Duthoit, head of OCHA in Chad, said. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Our life-saving operations in eastern Chad\nhave continued despite the recent deterioration in the security situation.\nWe must ensure that they are never interrupted, as the current crisis could\notherwise turn into a humanitarian disaster,? she added.",1] ); //--></script>

    As part of such assessments, the Special Representative for the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Rodolphe Adada, visited the town of Silea in West Darfur, to explore avenues of hastening delivery of assistance to the region.

    ?You have been caught in the middle of a war and it is our duty to take care of you,? Mr. Adada told some 200 residents of the town. ?We hope to establish a safe place from where the humanitarian community can operate and provide the assistance needed,? he added.

    At his Geneva press conference, Mr. Spindler explained that most of the civilians driven out by the recent air raids in the northern corridor are going to other villages or have been hiding in the Jebel Moun mountains, while others are attempting the dangerous journey into Chad.

    ?According to our team at the border, more people have crossed into Chad over the past weekend, following renewed attacks on Jebel Moun in West Darfur,? he said. ?The latest arrivals are mainly women, children and elderly people and they are extremely traumatized. Our team noticed that refugees who were right at the border a week ago have moved further to safer areas into Chad, away from the volatile border.?

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today that the continued humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad remained of grave concern. ?There are over 250,000 Sudanese refugees and over 180,000 internally displaced persons in eastern Chad, the vast majority of whom are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid for their survival,? Eliane Duthoit, head of OCHA in Chad, said.

    ?Our life-saving operations in eastern Chad have continued despite the recent deterioration in the security situation. We must ensure that they are never interrupted, as the current crisis could otherwise turn into a humanitarian disaster,? she added. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS NEEDS CHANGES ON\nTHE GROUND TO SUCCEED ? UN ENVOY\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe Annapolis peace process deserves continued\nsupport but it will only be sustained if there are real changes on the\nground, particularly in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, the senior\nUnited Nations envoy on the Middle East told the Security Council today.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eRobert H. Serry, the UN Special Coordinator\nfor the Middle East Peace Process, told a Council meeting that ?ordinary\npeople understandably have little confidence that the political process\nis delivering,? whether they live in the occupied Palestinian territory\nor in southern Israel.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,\nthe imposing presence of the barrier, the expanding settlements, the unremoved\noutposts, the system of closure and constant military incursions have grave\nimplications for the human rights, economic life and social fabric of the\nentire population,? he said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?In Gaza, the deprivations of basic human\ndignity are even more acute, and the sense of abandonment and frustration\nis palpable.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMr. Serry added that ?in southern Israel,\ncommunities who believed Israel?s disengagement from Gaza would bring\nsecurity face daily rocket attacks, while Israelis generally continue to\nbelieve that they must primarily rely on Israeli security measures for\ntheir safety.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe Special Coordinator stressed that he\nwas especially alarmed by the number of incidents on both sides of the\nconflict where children were being killed or injured.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHe urged all parties to abide by international\nlaw and to cooperate closely with the members of the international diplomatic\nQuartet ? the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States ?\nas well as regional countries and members of the Security Council to implement\nthe Road Map.",1] ); //--></script>


    * * *

    MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS NEEDS CHANGES ON THE GROUND TO SUCCEED ? UN ENVOY

    The Annapolis peace process deserves continued support but it will only be sustained if there are real changes on the ground, particularly in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, the senior United Nations envoy on the Middle East told the Security Council today.

    Robert H. Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told a Council meeting that ?ordinary people understandably have little confidence that the political process is delivering,? whether they live in the occupied Palestinian territory or in southern Israel.

    ?In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the imposing presence of the barrier, the expanding settlements, the unremoved outposts, the system of closure and constant military incursions have grave implications for the human rights, economic life and social fabric of the entire population,? he said.

    ?In Gaza, the deprivations of basic human dignity are even more acute, and the sense of abandonment and frustration is palpable.?

    Mr. Serry added that ?in southern Israel, communities who believed Israel?s disengagement from Gaza would bring security face daily rocket attacks, while Israelis generally continue to believe that they must primarily rely on Israeli security measures for their safety.?

    The Special Coordinator stressed that he was especially alarmed by the number of incidents on both sides of the conflict where children were being killed or injured.

    He urged all parties to abide by international law and to cooperate closely with the members of the international diplomatic Quartet ? the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States ? as well as regional countries and members of the Security Council to implement the Road Map. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?The goal must be an end to the occupation\nthat began in 1967 and the coexistence in peace and security of the State\nof Israel and the State of Palestine, a comprehensive regional peace, in\nfulfilment of resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, and the Arab Peace Initiative.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAlso addressing the Council meeting, Under-Secretary-General\nfor Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said his recent visit to the region\nshowed him that conditions for the inhabitants of Gaza, which has recently\nfaced tight Israeli restrictions along its borders, were ?grim and miserable,\nand far from ?normal?.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Eight months of severe restrictions on\nthe movement of goods and people entering and leaving the territory, following\nthe Hamas takeover in June 2007, have taken a heavy economic and social\ntoll, coming on top of years of difficulty and economic decline,? Mr.\nHolmes said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eDescribing the consequences as ?increasingly\nsevere and visible,? the Emergency Relief Coordinator added that the closures\nhave brought most industry and agriculture to collapse, raised unemployment\nand poverty to new heights and led to the deterioration of basic infrastructure.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eDuring his visit to Sderot, the southern\nIsraeli town that is the main target of Qassam rocket attacks from Palestinian\nmilitants in Gaza, Mr. Holmes witnessed ?the physical and psychological\ndamage to the population? from this constant barrage.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHe urged Hamas to act immediately to stop\nthe rocket, saying their continued firing was unjustified, clearly constituted\nterrorism, and must be halted unconditionally.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?However, I also made clear publicly and\nprivately my view that, whatever the provocation and illegality of the\nrockets, the effective Israeli isolation of Gaza is not justified, given\nIsrael?s continuing obligations to the people of Gaza. It amounts to collective\npunishment and is contrary to international humanitarian law.?",1] ); //--></script>

    ?The goal must be an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and the coexistence in peace and security of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, a comprehensive regional peace, in fulfilment of resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, and the Arab Peace Initiative.?

    Also addressing the Council meeting, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said his recent visit to the region showed him that conditions for the inhabitants of Gaza, which has recently faced tight Israeli restrictions along its borders, were ?grim and miserable, and far from ?normal?.?

    ?Eight months of severe restrictions on the movement of goods and people entering and leaving the territory, following the Hamas takeover in June 2007, have taken a heavy economic and social toll, coming on top of years of difficulty and economic decline,? Mr. Holmes said.

    Describing the consequences as ?increasingly severe and visible,? the Emergency Relief Coordinator added that the closures have brought most industry and agriculture to collapse, raised unemployment and poverty to new heights and led to the deterioration of basic infrastructure.

    During his visit to Sderot, the southern Israeli town that is the main target of Qassam rocket attacks from Palestinian militants in Gaza, Mr. Holmes witnessed ?the physical and psychological damage to the population? from this constant barrage.?

    He urged Hamas to act immediately to stop the rocket, saying their continued firing was unjustified, clearly constituted terrorism, and must be halted unconditionally.

    ?However, I also made clear publicly and privately my view that, whatever the provocation and illegality of the rockets, the effective Israeli isolation of Gaza is not justified, given Israel?s continuing obligations to the people of Gaza. It amounts to collective punishment and is contrary to international humanitarian law.? <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eOVER 5,500 CHADIANS RELOCATED TO REFUGEE\nCAMP IN NORTH-EASTERN CAMEROON ? UN\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMore than 5,500 Chadians who fled fighting\nin their capital, N\u0026#39;Djamena, earlier this month and have been living in\ntemporary sites in north-eastern Cameroon have now been relocated to a\nnewly equipped camp in the village of Maltam, according to United Nations\nhumanitarian officials. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAnother 10,000 refugees are expected to be\ntransferred to the camp from the town of Kouss?ri, which at one point was\nhosting some 30,000 Chadians ? who left their homeland due to fighting\nbetween Government forces and armed opposition groups ? in two temporary\nsites, as well as in local schools, churches and private homes. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe UN Resident Coordinator for Cameroon\nreports that many have returned to Chad. ?At present, along with the Cameroonian\nauthorities, we plan to continue providing assistance and protection to\nan estimated 15,000 refugees, until they feel comfortable enough to return\nhome,? said Sophie de Caen.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eJacques Franquin, Representative of the Office\nof the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the country added that\n?the camp will enable us to provide assistance and protection in the best\npossible way.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUNHCR reports that a total of 4,600 families\n? comprising around 20,000 people ? have registered with the agency and\nindicated that they want to stay in Cameroon for the time being.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe relocation to Maltam camp, which has\nbeen made possible thanks to a $4.7 million grant from the UN Central Emergency\nResponse Fund (CERF), began on 16 February. Upon their arrival, the refugees\nreceived essential non-food items from UNHCR, such as plastic sheeting,\nsleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, cooking stoves, soap,\nand sanitary items. ",1] ); //--></script>


    * * *

    OVER 5,500 CHADIANS RELOCATED TO REFUGEE CAMP IN NORTH-EASTERN CAMEROON ? UN

    More than 5,500 Chadians who fled fighting in their capital, N'Djamena, earlier this month and have been living in temporary sites in north-eastern Cameroon have now been relocated to a newly equipped camp in the village of Maltam, according to United Nations humanitarian officials.


    Another 10,000 refugees are expected to be transferred to the camp from the town of Kouss?ri, which at one point was hosting some 30,000 Chadians ? who left their homeland due to fighting between Government forces and armed opposition groups ? in two temporary sites, as well as in local schools, churches and private homes.


    The UN Resident Coordinator for Cameroon reports that many have returned to Chad. ?At present, along with the Cameroonian authorities, we plan to continue providing assistance and protection to an estimated 15,000 refugees, until they feel comfortable enough to return home,? said Sophie de Caen.


    Jacques Franquin, Representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the country added that ?the camp will enable us to provide assistance and protection in the best possible way.?


    UNHCR reports that a total of 4,600 families ? comprising around 20,000 people ? have registered with the agency and indicated that they want to stay in Cameroon for the time being.


    The relocation to Maltam camp, which has been made possible thanks to a $4.7 million grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), began on 16 February. Upon their arrival, the refugees received essential non-food items from UNHCR, such as plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, cooking stoves, soap, and sanitary items. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eA cargo plane chartered by UNHCR is set to\nleave on Wednesday from Denmark to Cameroon carrying some 40 tonnes of\nrelief items. This is the third airlift organized by the agency for Chadian\nrefugees in Cameroon. Two similar flights took place earlier this month,\nbringing 90 tonnes of essential supplies.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn addition, the UN World Food Programme\n(WFP) has distributed a total of 28 tonnes of food and is providing logistical\nsupport for the relocation. ?So far, we have completed five general food\ndistributions, targeting all refugees newly arrived in Maltam,? said Abdoulaye\nBald?, acting WFP Representative in Cameroon. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eRefugees arriving in Maltam are being provided\nwith nutritional screening thanks to the UN Children\u0026#39;s Fund (UNICEF) and\npartner non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and M?decins\nSans Fronti?res (MSF). About 25 cases of moderate malnutrition and nine\nof severe malnutrition were identified so far. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFollowing a successful measles and polio\nvaccination drive in Kouss?ri last week, UNICEF is set to begin a campaign\nagainst meningitis this Thursday in the Maltam camp and surrounding areas.\nThe agency is also partnering with the NGO Action Aid to provide recreational\nand educational opportunities for children in the Maltam camp.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUN REFUGEE AGENCY AIRLIFTS EMERGENCY SHELTER\nINTO KENYA\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAhead of March rains, the United Nations\nrefugee agency is bringing 5,000 tents to Kenya for use by tens of thousands\nof people driven from their homes by the violence that has gripped the\neast African country since December?s contested elections.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHalf the tents, which are light in weight\nand large enough for families, were flown in Friday from the Dubai stockpiles\nof the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The others were being\nshipped from Dubai to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.",1] ); //--></script>


    A cargo plane chartered by UNHCR is set to leave on Wednesday from Denmark to Cameroon carrying some 40 tonnes of relief items. This is the third airlift organized by the agency for Chadian refugees in Cameroon. Two similar flights took place earlier this month, bringing 90 tonnes of essential supplies.


    In addition, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed a total of 28 tonnes of food and is providing logistical support for the relocation. ?So far, we have completed five general food distributions, targeting all refugees newly arrived in Maltam,? said Abdoulaye Bald?, acting WFP Representative in Cameroon.


    Refugees arriving in Maltam are being provided with nutritional screening thanks to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and partner non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF). About 25 cases of moderate malnutrition and nine of severe malnutrition were identified so far.


    Following a successful measles and polio vaccination drive in Kouss?ri last week, UNICEF is set to begin a campaign against meningitis this Thursday in the Maltam camp and surrounding areas. The agency is also partnering with the NGO Action Aid to provide recreational and educational opportunities for children in the Maltam camp.


    * * *

    UN REFUGEE AGENCY AIRLIFTS EMERGENCY SHELTER INTO KENYA

    Ahead of March rains, the United Nations refugee agency is bringing 5,000 tents to Kenya for use by tens of thousands of people driven from their homes by the violence that has gripped the east African country since December?s contested elections.

    Half the tents, which are light in weight and large enough for families, were flown in Friday from the Dubai stockpiles of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The others were being shipped from Dubai to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?We hope to deliver these tents to the most\naffected displaced people before it starts to rain next month,? said Alice\nBallah-Conteh, head of UNHCR?s emergency response team in Nairobi. Kenya\nhas two rainy seasons, with the first running from March to May.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThis is the second airlift of aid to Kenya\nby UNHCR since violence erupted in western parts of the country after the\n27 December presidential and parliamentary polls. A first flight on 17\nJanuary brought in 19,600 bales of plastic sheeting to be used for shelter,\n40,000 mosquito nets and 15 generators.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn addition, since early January, UNHCR has\ndistributed 10,000 family kits, 758 tents and 50,000 sanitary towels in\nparts of the country hit hardest by the violence, such as Rift Valley Province\nand Nairobi.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?With the current calm being experienced\nin Kenya, UNHCR expects to reach many parts of the country that could not\nbe accessed earlier due to insecurity,? said Ms. Ballah-Conteh.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTens of thousands of Kenyans are still living\nin more than 200 sites for internally displaced people (IDP) across the\ncountry. More than 80,000 IDPs, meanwhile, have moved back to their rural\nhome areas, with many living with relatives or friends. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThis is putting a strain on the resources\nof those hosting them, UNHCR said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eSURGING FOOD PRICES COULD LEAD TO NUTRITIONAL\nCRISIS FOR CENTRAL AMERICANS ? UN\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)\nis warning of a potential nutritional crisis in Central America, where\nthe prices of wheat and corn have nearly doubled in the past year, bad\nweather has pushed the price of beans to unprecedented levels.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e",1] ); //--></script>

    ?We hope to deliver these tents to the most affected displaced people before it starts to rain next month,? said Alice Ballah-Conteh, head of UNHCR?s emergency response team in Nairobi. Kenya has two rainy seasons, with the first running from March to May.

    This is the second airlift of aid to Kenya by UNHCR since violence erupted in western parts of the country after the 27 December presidential and parliamentary polls. A first flight on 17 January brought in 19,600 bales of plastic sheeting to be used for shelter, 40,000 mosquito nets and 15 generators.

    In addition, since early January, UNHCR has distributed 10,000 family kits, 758 tents and 50,000 sanitary towels in parts of the country hit hardest by the violence, such as Rift Valley Province and Nairobi.

    ?With the current calm being experienced in Kenya, UNHCR expects to reach many parts of the country that could not be accessed earlier due to insecurity,? said Ms. Ballah-Conteh.

    Tens of thousands of Kenyans are still living in more than 200 sites for internally displaced people (IDP) across the country. More than 80,000 IDPs, meanwhile, have moved back to their rural home areas, with many living with relatives or friends.

    This is putting a strain on the resources of those hosting them, UNHCR said.


    * * *

    SURGING FOOD PRICES COULD LEAD TO NUTRITIONAL CRISIS FOR CENTRAL AMERICANS ? UN

    The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is warning of a potential nutritional crisis in Central America, where the prices of wheat and corn have nearly doubled in the past year, bad weather has pushed the price of beans to unprecedented levels.

    <script><!-- D(["mb","The agency notes that the surge has meant\nthat the actual calorie intake of an average meal in rural El Salvador,\nfor example, is today roughly 60 per cent of what it was in May 2006.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?At this stage it is still premature to\nprovide figures, but we fear a deepening nutritional crisis among the poorest\nsegments of the population, those already food and nutritionally insecure,?\nsays WFP El Salvador Country Director Carlo Scaramella, who is coordinating\na study of the impact of recent rising prices in the region.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?At the same time, what we are seeing is\nthe emergence of a new group of nutritionally and food-insecure people\namong the poorest strata of the population,? he added.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn response to the growing crisis, WFP has\nincreased local purchases and is urgently asking international donors for\nmore contributions, to make up for its sharp decline in purchasing power.\nThe agency has also set up an internal task force at its Rome headquarters\nand is reviewing ways to better target its assistance.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAt the global level, WFP plans to launch\na series of consultations with leading experts in the field of hunger and\nfood security, and has called for a special meeting with key non-governmental\norganization (NGO) partners to tackle the issue.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eERITREA BLOCKING PASSAGE OF UN PEACEKEEPERS\nAS REGROUPING EFFORTS CONTINUE\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eEritrean soldiers have blocked the passage\nof eight United Nations vehicles in the past 24 hours as the world body?s\npeacekeeping mission in the region continued to regroup staff and assets\nin the capital, Asmara, ahead of its planned temporary relocation across\nthe border to Ethiopia. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAccording to the mission, known as UNMEE,\nthe incidents occurred at a checkpoint near Senafe, inside the Temporary\nSecurity Zone (TSZ) that divides the neighbouring East African nations\nwhich fought a bloody border war that ended in 2000.",1] ); //--></script> The agency notes that the surge has meant that the actual calorie intake of an average meal in rural El Salvador, for example, is today roughly 60 per cent of what it was in May 2006.

    ?At this stage it is still premature to provide figures, but we fear a deepening nutritional crisis among the poorest segments of the population, those already food and nutritionally insecure,? says WFP El Salvador Country Director Carlo Scaramella, who is coordinating a study of the impact of recent rising prices in the region.

    ?At the same time, what we are seeing is the emergence of a new group of nutritionally and food-insecure people among the poorest strata of the population,? he added.

    In response to the growing crisis, WFP has increased local purchases and is urgently asking international donors for more contributions, to make up for its sharp decline in purchasing power. The agency has also set up an internal task force at its Rome headquarters and is reviewing ways to better target its assistance.

    At the global level, WFP plans to launch a series of consultations with leading experts in the field of hunger and food security, and has called for a special meeting with key non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to tackle the issue.


    * * *

    ERITREA BLOCKING PASSAGE OF UN PEACEKEEPERS AS REGROUPING EFFORTS CONTINUE

    Eritrean soldiers have blocked the passage of eight United Nations vehicles in the past 24 hours as the world body?s peacekeeping mission in the region continued to regroup staff and assets in the capital, Asmara, ahead of its planned temporary relocation across the border to Ethiopia.

    According to the mission, known as UNMEE, the incidents occurred at a checkpoint near Senafe, inside the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) that divides the neighbouring East African nations which fought a bloody border war that ended in 2000. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe vehicles were en route to collect equipment\nfor the regrouping that is currently taking place in Asmara, while the\nUN awaits Eritrea?s cooperation to temporary relocate to Ethiopia.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMeanwhile, other movements by peacekeepers\nand vehicles have proceeded without incident, the mission reports.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTop UN officials and the Security Council\nhave urged Eritrea to stop obstructing the temporary relocation of the\nmission to Ethiopia amid growing concern over rapidly dwindling food and\nfuel supplies for the blue helmets.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eSIERRA LEONE: UN STARTS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE\nMONITORING OF PRISON CONDITIONS\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHuman rights officers with the United Nations\npeace mission in Sierra Leone will tomorrow begin holding a three-day training\nexercise to improve the standard of monitoring of prison conditions across\nthe West African country.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eStaff with the national human rights commission,\nnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent rights monitors will\nbenefit from the training programme, the UN Integrated Office in Sierra\nLeone (UNIOSIL) said today in a press release issued in Freetown, the capital.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUNIOSIL stressed that the protection of prisoners?\nrights is one of the essential preconditions to a durable peace in Sierra\nLeone, which is recovering from a brutal civil war.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFour training programmes have already been\nconducted for prison officers in Sierra Leone, where a countrywide assessment\ncarried out in 2006 found there was a need for awareness-raising and training\non this issue.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUNICEF TO HELP REBUILD LIBERIA?S DEVASTATED\nPRIMARY SCHOOLS",1] ); //--></script>

    The vehicles were en route to collect equipment for the regrouping that is currently taking place in Asmara, while the UN awaits Eritrea?s cooperation to temporary relocate to Ethiopia.

    Meanwhile, other movements by peacekeepers and vehicles have proceeded without incident, the mission reports.

    Top UN officials and the Security Council have urged Eritrea to stop obstructing the temporary relocation of the mission to Ethiopia amid growing concern over rapidly dwindling food and fuel supplies for the blue helmets.


    * * *

    SIERRA LEONE: UN STARTS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE MONITORING OF PRISON CONDITIONS

    Human rights officers with the United Nations peace mission in Sierra Leone will tomorrow begin holding a three-day training exercise to improve the standard of monitoring of prison conditions across the West African country.

    Staff with the national human rights commission, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent rights monitors will benefit from the training programme, the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) said today in a press release issued in Freetown, the capital.

    UNIOSIL stressed that the protection of prisoners? rights is one of the essential preconditions to a durable peace in Sierra Leone, which is recovering from a brutal civil war.

    Four training programmes have already been conducted for prison officers in Sierra Leone, where a countrywide assessment carried out in 2006 found there was a need for awareness-raising and training on this issue.


    * * *

    UNICEF TO HELP REBUILD LIBERIA?S DEVASTATED PRIMARY SCHOOLS <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eWith only one third of Liberians reaching\nthe fifth grade of school and children less likely to read than their parents,\nthe head of the United Nations Children?s Fund (UNICEF) today announced\na $20 million programme to help rebuild the education system of the West\nAfrican country, which was gutted during a long, brutal civil war. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Reliable funding in the transition period\nfollowing conflict is a major challenge,? said Ann Veneman, UNICEF?s\nExecutive Director, who is making her first visit to the recovering nation.\n?This fund will enable children in Liberia to return to school and receive\nprimary education that was previously inaccessible to them as a result\nof the 15-year civil war.?\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eA new public/private partnership, based on\ndonations from the Netherlands and the Open Society Institute, will train\nteachers and rebuild schools. It is estimated that 67 per cent of teachers\nin the public school system are unqualified.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMs. Veneman also announced an allocation\nof more than $2 million for use in advocacy, research and strengthening\ndata collection systems. Part of this money will also be used for the census\nplanned for March next year.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eHALF OF GLOBAL POPULATION WILL LIVE IN CITIES\nBY END OF THIS YEAR, PREDICTS UN\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eBy the end of this year, half of the world?s\n6.7 billion people will live in urban areas, according to a report unveiled\nby the United Nations today, which also predicts that future growth of\nthe world?s urban population will be concentrated in Asia and Africa.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe 2007 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects\nprovides the official UN estimates and projections of the urban, rural\nand city populations of all countries in the world up to 2050.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e",1] ); //--></script>

    With only one third of Liberians reaching the fifth grade of school and children less likely to read than their parents, the head of the United Nations Children?s Fund (UNICEF) today announced a $20 million programme to help rebuild the education system of the West African country, which was gutted during a long, brutal civil war.

    ?Reliable funding in the transition period following conflict is a major challenge,? said Ann Veneman, UNICEF?s Executive Director, who is making her first visit to the recovering nation. ?This fund will enable children in Liberia to return to school and receive primary education that was previously inaccessible to them as a result of the 15-year civil war.?

    A new public/private partnership, based on donations from the Netherlands and the Open Society Institute, will train teachers and rebuild schools. It is estimated that 67 per cent of teachers in the public school system are unqualified.

    Ms. Veneman also announced an allocation of more than $2 million for use in advocacy, research and strengthening data collection systems. Part of this money will also be used for the census planned for March next year.


    * * *

    HALF OF GLOBAL POPULATION WILL LIVE IN CITIES BY END OF THIS YEAR, PREDICTS UN

    By the end of this year, half of the world?s 6.7 billion people will live in urban areas, according to a report unveiled by the United Nations today, which also predicts that future growth of the world?s urban population will be concentrated in Asia and Africa.

    The 2007 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects provides the official UN estimates and projections of the urban, rural and city populations of all countries in the world up to 2050.
    <script><!-- D(["mb","\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe latest data contained in the report confirms\nthat ?urbanization is growing everywhere,? said Hania Zlotnik, Director\nof the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs\n(DESA), which prepared the report.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003ePresenting the findings at a press briefing\nin New York, Ms. Zlotnik added that perhaps the most important message\nof the report is that not all the regions of the world are equally urbanized.\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Although Asia and Africa are the least\nurbanized areas, they account for most of the urban population of the world,?\nshe stated, adding that the growth of the urban population in the years\nto come is going to be highly concentrated in these two regions.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eCurrently there are 1.6 billion people living\nin Asia?s urban areas. That number is expected to rise by another 1.8\nbillion people in the next four decades, more than doubling the urban population,\nMs. Zlotnik pointed out.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eChina, which is now 40 per cent urban, is\nexpected to become more than 70 per cent urban by 2050. Its urban population\nis expected to number about 1 billion by that year.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn comparison, only 30 per cent of India?s\npopulation today is living in urban areas ? slightly more than 300 million\npeople. By 2050, 55 per cent of India?s population will be living in urban\nareas, amounting to 900 million people. ?India is expected to urbanize\nmuch less than China and, therefore, it is expected to remain the country\nwith the largest rural population during most of the future decades,?\nsaid Ms. Zlotnik.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTurning to Africa, she noted that the urban\npopulation is ?likely to triple over the next 40 years,? passing from\n340 million to over 900 million.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMeanwhile, the urban population will grow\na little bit in Latin America, while not very much in the developed world,\nshe said, adding that ?more or less what we have today is what they?re\ngoing to face.?",1] ); //--></script>
    The latest data contained in the report confirms that ?urbanization is growing everywhere,? said Hania Zlotnik, Director of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), which prepared the report.

    Presenting the findings at a press briefing in New York, Ms. Zlotnik added that perhaps the most important message of the report is that not all the regions of the world are equally urbanized.

    ?Although Asia and Africa are the least urbanized areas, they account for most of the urban population of the world,? she stated, adding that the growth of the urban population in the years to come is going to be highly concentrated in these two regions.

    Currently there are 1.6 billion people living in Asia?s urban areas. That number is expected to rise by another 1.8 billion people in the next four decades, more than doubling the urban population, Ms. Zlotnik pointed out.

    China, which is now 40 per cent urban, is expected to become more than 70 per cent urban by 2050. Its urban population is expected to number about 1 billion by that year.

    In comparison, only 30 per cent of India?s population today is living in urban areas ? slightly more than 300 million people. By 2050, 55 per cent of India?s population will be living in urban areas, amounting to 900 million people. ?India is expected to urbanize much less than China and, therefore, it is expected to remain the country with the largest rural population during most of the future decades,? said Ms. Zlotnik.

    Turning to Africa, she noted that the urban population is ?likely to triple over the next 40 years,? passing from 340 million to over 900 million.

    Meanwhile, the urban population will grow a little bit in Latin America, while not very much in the developed world, she said, adding that ?more or less what we have today is what they?re going to face.? <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe report does note that the projections\nwill only be realized if fertility rates in the developing world continue\nto decline. If fertility rates continue at current levels and urbanization\noccurs at the predicted pace, the world urban population will increase\nto 8.1 billion by 2050 instead of the 6.4 billion projected.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMs. Zlotnik pointed out that there are three\ncomponents of growth ? natural increase, transfer of the rural population\nto urban areas through migration, and reclassification of rural localities\nto urban centres. ?In most of the countries of the developing world, estimates\nshow that about 60 per cent of urban growth is now attributable to natural\nincrease.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?The exception is China, where only 30 per\ncent of urban growth is due to natural increase and 70 per cent is attributable\nto changes in the number of areas considered urban and also to migration,?\nshe stated. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eShe added that while megacities ? those\nwith more than 10 million inhabitants ? attract a lot of attention, that\nis not where most of the population growth will be found. With 36 million\npeople, Tokyo is the world?s largest megacity and it is not expected to\nchange in size until 2025. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe fastest growth rates will be found in\nthe cities of Africa, such as Lagos and Kinshasa that are not yet megacities\nbut will be in the future, and the cities of Pakistan and Bangladesh, such\nas Lahore, Karachi and Dhaka.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, GREECE\nTO HOLD UN-LED DISCUSSIONS\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe United Nations envoy tasked with helping\nGreece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia resolve their dispute\nover the official name of the latter country will hold discussions with\nthe two sides later this week as part of efforts to broker a solution.",1] ); //--></script>

    The report does note that the projections will only be realized if fertility rates in the developing world continue to decline. If fertility rates continue at current levels and urbanization occurs at the predicted pace, the world urban population will increase to 8.1 billion by 2050 instead of the 6.4 billion projected.

    Ms. Zlotnik pointed out that there are three components of growth ? natural increase, transfer of the rural population to urban areas through migration, and reclassification of rural localities to urban centres. ?In most of the countries of the developing world, estimates show that about 60 per cent of urban growth is now attributable to natural increase.

    ?The exception is China, where only 30 per cent of urban growth is due to natural increase and 70 per cent is attributable to changes in the number of areas considered urban and also to migration,? she stated.

    She added that while megacities ? those with more than 10 million inhabitants ? attract a lot of attention, that is not where most of the population growth will be found. With 36 million people, Tokyo is the world?s largest megacity and it is not expected to change in size until 2025.

    The fastest growth rates will be found in the cities of Africa, such as Lagos and Kinshasa that are not yet megacities but will be in the future, and the cities of Pakistan and Bangladesh, such as Lahore, Karachi and Dhaka.


    * * *

    FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, GREECE TO HOLD UN-LED DISCUSSIONS

    The United Nations envoy tasked with helping Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia resolve their dispute over the official name of the latter country will hold discussions with the two sides later this week as part of efforts to broker a solution. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMatthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General?s\nPersonal Envoy for Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,\nwill have ?continued discussions with representatives? of the two States\nin New York this Friday, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eEarlier this month Mr. Nimetz submitted a\nproposal to the two countries which could serve as the basis for the name\nissue and related outstanding matters, and asked both sides to study his\nideas.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe Interim Accord of 13 September 1995,\nwhich was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries\nregarding the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.\nIt also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices\nof the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTOP UN POLITICAL OFFICIAL EN ROUTE TO MOSCOW\nFOLLOWING VISITS TO TOKYO, SEOUL\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe United Nations political chief is on\nhis way to Moscow to discuss a number of issues with Russian officials,\nas part of a regional tour that also included visits to Tokyo and Seoul.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eYesterday, Under-Secretary-General for Political\nAffairs B. Lynn Pascoe attended the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak\nof the Republic of Korea. He was joined there by Secretary-General Ban\nKi-moon?s Deputy Chef de Cabinet and Special Adviser Kim Won-soo.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters\nthat the delegation had a ?very warm? meeting with the new President,\nwho expressed strong interest and determination to expand, as part of his\ncountry?s global diplomacy, its role in the UN, including on climate change,\nincreased participation in peacekeeping operations and official development\nassistance (ODA).\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e",1] ); //--></script>

    Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General?s Personal Envoy for Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, will have ?continued discussions with representatives? of the two States in New York this Friday, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

    Earlier this month Mr. Nimetz submitted a proposal to the two countries which could serve as the basis for the name issue and related outstanding matters, and asked both sides to study his ideas.

    The Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries regarding the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement.


    * * *

    TOP UN POLITICAL OFFICIAL EN ROUTE TO MOSCOW FOLLOWING VISITS TO TOKYO, SEOUL

    The United Nations political chief is on his way to Moscow to discuss a number of issues with Russian officials, as part of a regional tour that also included visits to Tokyo and Seoul.

    Yesterday, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe attended the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea. He was joined there by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon?s Deputy Chef de Cabinet and Special Adviser Kim Won-soo.

    UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters that the delegation had a ?very warm? meeting with the new President, who expressed strong interest and determination to expand, as part of his country?s global diplomacy, its role in the UN, including on climate change, increased participation in peacekeeping operations and official development assistance (ODA).

    <script><!-- D(["mb","Before visiting Seoul, the delegation was\nin Tokyo where it had discussions with Japan?s Minister for Foreign Affairs,\nMasahiko Koumura, and other senior officials on the areas where Japan and\nthe world body could further strengthen their interaction on UN reform,\ninternational peace and other issues of mutual interest, Ms. Montas said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMr. Pascoe conveyed the Secretary-General?s\nstrong appreciation for Japan?s contributions to the Organization. He\nadded that the UN will work for the success of the upcoming Group of Eight\n(G-8) Summit in Hokkaido, as well as the Fourth Tokyo International Conference\non African Development.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eWORLD NOW RICH IN FERTILIZER SUPPLY, UN AGRICULTURAL\nAGENCY SAYS\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eEnough fertilizer will be produced in the\nnext five years to cover world demand and support higher levels of food\nand biofuel production, according to a report released today by the United\nNations agricultural agency.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?High commodity prices experienced over\nrecent years led to increased production and correspondingly to greater\nfertilizer use,? Jan Poulisse, a fertilizer expert for the Food and Agriculture\nOrganization (FAO), said in announcing the findings of the report.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?While it is expected that the demand for\nbasic food crops, fruits and vegetables, for animal products and for biofuel\ncrops is likely to remain strong, we expect fertilizer supply to grow sufficiently\nto meet higher consumption,? he added, noting that higher fertilizer prices\nhave boosted production.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe report estimates that the supply of nitrogen,\nphosphate and potash nutrient will increase by some 34 million tons, representing\nan annual growth rate of 3 per cent between the biennia of 2007-2008 and\n2011-2012, comfortably sufficient to cover demand growth of ",1] ); //--></script> Before visiting Seoul, the delegation was in Tokyo where it had discussions with Japan?s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Masahiko Koumura, and other senior officials on the areas where Japan and the world body could further strengthen their interaction on UN reform, international peace and other issues of mutual interest, Ms. Montas said.

    Mr. Pascoe conveyed the Secretary-General?s strong appreciation for Japan?s contributions to the Organization. He added that the UN will work for the success of the upcoming Group of Eight (G-8) Summit in Hokkaido, as well as the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development.


    * * *

    WORLD NOW RICH IN FERTILIZER SUPPLY, UN AGRICULTURAL AGENCY SAYS

    Enough fertilizer will be produced in the next five years to cover world demand and support higher levels of food and biofuel production, according to a report released today by the United Nations agricultural agency.

    ?High commodity prices experienced over recent years led to increased production and correspondingly to greater fertilizer use,? Jan Poulisse, a fertilizer expert for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said in announcing the findings of the report.

    ?While it is expected that the demand for basic food crops, fruits and vegetables, for animal products and for biofuel crops is likely to remain strong, we expect fertilizer supply to grow sufficiently to meet higher consumption,? he added, noting that higher fertilizer prices have boosted production.

    The report estimates that the supply of nitrogen, phosphate and potash nutrient will increase by some 34 million tons, representing an annual growth rate of 3 per cent between the biennia of 2007-2008 and 2011-2012, comfortably sufficient to cover demand growth of <script><!-- D(["mb","1.9 per cent\nannually.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAfrica will remain a major phosphate exporter\nand increase nitrogen exports while importing all of its potash. Fertilizer\nconsumption on that continent continues to be largely restricted to 10\ncountries, with the main consumers being Egypt, South Africa and Morocco.\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIt is expected that North America will continue\nto be a net importer of nitrogen and that the region will move into increasing\nphosphate deficit while remaining a primary supplier of potash. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAsia is expected to produce a rapidly increasing\nsurplus of nitrogen, but will continue to import phosphate and potash.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUN RE-STARTS STALLED REPATRIATION OF SUDANESE\nREFUGEES FROM WESTERN ETHIOPIA\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe United Nations refugee agency has resumed\nits repatriation of Sudanese from a camp in western Ethiopia after the\noperation had been halted for nearly two months because of bureaucratic\nproblems.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eA convoy of vehicles carrying 605 people\nleft Ethiopia?s Bonga camp for Sudan?s Blue Nile state at the weekend,\nexpecting to reach their destination by today, the UN High Commissioner\nfor Refugees (UNHCR) reported. Almost two thirds of the group were aged\nunder 18.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUNHCR hopes this convoy ? the first of its\nkind since 29 December ? will lead to the resumption of regular repatriations\nfrom Bonga to neighbouring Sudan, where the long-running north-south civil\nwar ended in early 2005.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eCosmas Chanda, UNHCR?s deputy representative\nin Ethiopia, said that the agency plans to close Bonga ? currently home\nto about 5,000 refugees ? and another nearby camp, Dimma, which houses\nover 2,600.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe plan is to conduct weekly convoys from\nBonga and also start convoys of returns from Dimma and the other two camps\nin the area, Sherkole and Fugnido.",1] ); //--></script> 1.9 per cent annually.

    Africa will remain a major phosphate exporter and increase nitrogen exports while importing all of its potash. Fertilizer consumption on that continent continues to be largely restricted to 10 countries, with the main consumers being Egypt, South Africa and Morocco.

    It is expected that North America will continue to be a net importer of nitrogen and that the region will move into increasing phosphate deficit while remaining a primary supplier of potash.

    Asia is expected to produce a rapidly increasing surplus of nitrogen, but will continue to import phosphate and potash.


    * * *

    UN RE-STARTS STALLED REPATRIATION OF SUDANESE REFUGEES FROM WESTERN ETHIOPIA

    The United Nations refugee agency has resumed its repatriation of Sudanese from a camp in western Ethiopia after the operation had been halted for nearly two months because of bureaucratic problems.

    A convoy of vehicles carrying 605 people left Ethiopia?s Bonga camp for Sudan?s Blue Nile state at the weekend, expecting to reach their destination by today, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported. Almost two thirds of the group were aged under 18.

    UNHCR hopes this convoy ? the first of its kind since 29 December ? will lead to the resumption of regular repatriations from Bonga to neighbouring Sudan, where the long-running north-south civil war ended in early 2005.

    Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR?s deputy representative in Ethiopia, said that the agency plans to close Bonga ? currently home to about 5,000 refugees ? and another nearby camp, Dimma, which houses over 2,600.

    The plan is to conduct weekly convoys from Bonga and also start convoys of returns from Dimma and the other two camps in the area, Sherkole and Fugnido. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eReturnees receive a repatriation package\nof blankets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, a water filter and a sanitary kit\nfor females. When they pass the Ethiopian-Sudanese border crossing at Kurmuk,\nthey will also receive plastic sheets, mosquito nets, buckets, kitchen\nutensils and soap.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn addition, the World Food Programme (WFP)\nand the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) distribute three months\nof food, seeds and agricultural tools to the returnees once they reach\ntheir destination in Sudan.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUN LAUDS ?INNOVATIVE? NORWEGIAN ARCTIC\nVAULT SAFEGUARDING WORLD?S CROP SEEDS\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture\nOrganization (FAO) has hailed a vault built into a frozen mountain in the\nremote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to protect seed samples from the\nthreats of climate change, disease and disasters as ?one of the most innovative\nand impressive acts in the service of humanity.? \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eLocated near the village of Longyearbyen\n? some 1,120 kilometres from the North Pole ? the Global Seed Vault will\nhouse duplicates of unique varieties of the world?s most important crops.\nPermafrost and thick rock will ensure that even without electricity, the\ngenetic material stored in the vault will remain frozen and protected.\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?The wealth that is being safeguarded in\nSvalbard will be the global insurance to address future challenges,? FAO\nDirector-General Jacques Diouf said yesterday. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eSpeaking at a conference in Svalbard held\nin connection with the inauguration of the Seed Vault, he noted that the\nworld?s crop gene pool contained in seeds is essential for increasing\ncrop productivity, mitigating environmental stress such as climate change,\npests and diseases, and ensuring a genetic resource base for the future.\n",1] ); //--></script>

    Returnees receive a repatriation package of blankets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, a water filter and a sanitary kit for females. When they pass the Ethiopian-Sudanese border crossing at Kurmuk, they will also receive plastic sheets, mosquito nets, buckets, kitchen utensils and soap.

    In addition, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) distribute three months of food, seeds and agricultural tools to the returnees once they reach their destination in Sudan.


    * * *

    UN LAUDS ?INNOVATIVE? NORWEGIAN ARCTIC VAULT SAFEGUARDING WORLD?S CROP SEEDS

    The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has hailed a vault built into a frozen mountain in the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to protect seed samples from the threats of climate change, disease and disasters as ?one of the most innovative and impressive acts in the service of humanity.?

    Located near the village of Longyearbyen ? some 1,120 kilometres from the North Pole ? the Global Seed Vault will house duplicates of unique varieties of the world?s most important crops. Permafrost and thick rock will ensure that even without electricity, the genetic material stored in the vault will remain frozen and protected.

    ?The wealth that is being safeguarded in Svalbard will be the global insurance to address future challenges,? FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said yesterday.

    Speaking at a conference in Svalbard held in connection with the inauguration of the Seed Vault, he noted that the world?s crop gene pool contained in seeds is essential for increasing crop productivity, mitigating environmental stress such as climate change, pests and diseases, and ensuring a genetic resource base for the future. <script><!-- D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Yet the crop diversity, contained in the\nworld?s seed collections is constantly under threat from natural and human-led\ndisasters,? Dr. Diouf said. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe establishment of the Global Seed Vault\nwas facilitated by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources\nfor Food and Agriculture, a global legal framework for conserving and accessing\ncrop diversity, adopted by FAO member countries. Ratified by 116 countries,\nthe Treaty paves the way for the conservation and sustainable use of plant\ngenetic resources with fair and equitable sharing of benefits. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe Norwegian Government funded the construction\nof the vault, which has the capacity to shield 4.5 million seed samples,\nequivalent to about 2 billion seeds. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?Seeds are the vehicles of life,? said\nDr. Diouf. The seed vault will ensure that the genetic variability needed\nfor crop production is available to tackle future challenges in agriculture.\n\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e*\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr \u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e------------------------------\u003cWBR\u003e-----------\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eClick here for a PDF version of the UN Daily\nNews: \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.un.org/News/dh/pdf/english/2008/26022008.pdf\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\u003ehttp://www.un.org/News/dh/pdf\u003cWBR\u003e/english/2008/26022008.pdf\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFor more details go to UN News Centre at:\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.un.org/news\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\u003ehttp://www.un.org/news\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTo listen to news and in-depth programmes\nfrom UN Radio go to: \u003ca href\u003d\"http://radio.un.org/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\u003ehttp://radio.un.org/\u003c/a\u003e \u003c/font\u003e",1] ); //--></script>

    ?Yet the crop diversity, contained in the world?s seed collections is constantly under threat from natural and human-led disasters,? Dr. Diouf said.

    The establishment of the Global Seed Vault was facilitated by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a global legal framework for conserving and accessing crop diversity, adopted by FAO member countries. Ratified by 116 countries, the Treaty paves the way for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources with fair and equitable sharing of benefits.

    The Norwegian Government funded the construction of the vault, which has the capacity to shield 4.5 million seed samples, equivalent to about 2 billion seeds.

    ?Seeds are the vehicles of life,? said Dr. Diouf. The seed vault will ensure that the genetic variability needed for crop production is available to tackle future challenges in agriculture.


    * * *










    ------------------------------<wbr>-----------
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  • #2
    UN DAILY NEWS

    UN DAILY NEWS from the
    UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

    27 February, 2008

    COMMENDING INDIA?S CONTROL OF BIRD FLU OUTBREAK, UN SAYS VIGILANCE STILL NEEDED

    The recent, worst-ever outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Indian state of West Bengal seems to have been brought under control by the swift and comprehensive measures taken by the country?s authorities, though continued vigilance was crucial, the United Nations agricultural agency said today.

    ?Intensive culling in the predominantly backyard poultry sector appears to have stopped the disease in its tracks,? Mohinder Oberoi, a veterinary expert of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said after a recent field trip to the affected areas, where no new outbreaks have been seen since 2 February.

    FAO?s Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech, however, urged the country to maintain intensive surveillance in high-risk areas as the possibility of new occurrences remains high. ?The virus could still be present in the environment despite heavy slaughtering and extensive disinfection of affected areas, or it could be reintroduced from other countries,? he said.

    The FAO officials praised the national and state governments? political and financial commitment to stamp out the disease. They said public awareness campaigns, a strong command chain from districts to villages, compensation payments and an effective collaboration between animal and human health departments at field level, have been the key factors for the success.

    To achieve rapid control, prevent the spread of the virus to other states and to avoid the risk of human infection, the Indian Government had to cull over 3.9 million chickens and ducks, mainly belonging to poor backyard poultry farmers.

    <SCRIPT><!--D(["mb","?Public awareness campaigns should continue\nover the next months introducing rural communities to safe poultry production\nand basic biosecurity measures with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk\nof human infections,? the agency said in a press release.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eIn addition, it recommended that the socio-economic\nimpact of the control campaign be urgently assessed to better define and\napply measures to mitigate the impact of massive culling on poor small\nholders. Live bird markets, migration of wild birds and transportation\nroutes of birds and poultry products should be mapped to better understand\nand control the spread of the disease, it said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eFAO, in collaboration with the World Organization\nfor Animal Health (OIE), has also invited India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan\nand Myanmar to meet to better coordinate regional avian influenza control\ncampaigns. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe Nepalese Government has agreed to host\nthe meeting in Kathmandu, the agency said.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMOLDOVA: UN AGENCIES MAINTAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE\nIN WAKE OF DROUGHT\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eUnited Nations humanitarian agencies are\ncontinuing to provide emergency assistance to families in Europe?s poorest\ncountry, Moldova, which last year experienced its worst drought in six\ndecades.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eEnough seed corn is being distributed so\nthat more than 30,000 farming households can start their spring season\nplanting in the coming months, while some 9,000 tons of livestock fodder\nhas already been delivered to over 20,000 households, the UN Development\nProgramme (UNDP) said in a press release issued today.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eKaarina Immonen, the UN Resident Coordinator\nin Moldova, told reporters that the provision of livestock fodder and corn\nis only the latest phase of a multi-step programme to help Moldovans get\nback on their feet after the drought. So far, more than 135,000 people\nhave received assistance.",1]);//--></SCRIPT>?Public awareness campaigns should continue over the next months introducing rural communities to safe poultry production and basic biosecurity measures with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk of human infections,? the agency said in a press release.

    In addition, it recommended that the socio-economic impact of the control campaign be urgently assessed to better define and apply measures to mitigate the impact of massive culling on poor small holders. Live bird markets, migration of wild birds and transportation routes of birds and poultry products should be mapped to better understand and control the spread of the disease, it said.

    FAO, in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), has also invited India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to meet to better coordinate regional avian influenza control campaigns.

    The Nepalese Government has agreed to host the meeting in Kathmandu, the agency said.


    * * *

    MOLDOVA: UN AGENCIES MAINTAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN WAKE OF DROUGHT

    United Nations humanitarian agencies are continuing to provide emergency assistance to families in Europe?s poorest country, Moldova, which last year experienced its worst drought in six decades.

    Enough seed corn is being distributed so that more than 30,000 farming households can start their spring season planting in the coming months, while some 9,000 tons of livestock fodder has already been delivered to over 20,000 households, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a press release issued today.

    Kaarina Immonen, the UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, told reporters that the provision of livestock fodder and corn is only the latest phase of a multi-step programme to help Moldovans get back on their feet after the drought. So far, more than 135,000 people have received assistance.<SCRIPT><!--D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe relief and recovery programmes are being\norganized by UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN\nChildren?s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World\nFood Programme (WFP), who responded to an appeal for help by the Moldovan\nGovernment last July.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eRainfall was so sparse last year that some\nregions of the small Eastern European nation experienced no rain for four\nconsecutive months, and the overall totals for the year were 50 to 75 per\ncent below average.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe drought ? considered the worst since\n1946 ? hit Moldova particularly hard because its economy is so dependent\non agriculture, which provides a livelihood for two-thirds of the population\nof roughly 4.5 million. About 84 per cent of arable land was affected.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eMs. Immonen said a study by the International\nMonetary Fund (IMF) estimated that the agricultural sector lost 100,000\njobs, while inflation caused the price of many basic goods and services\n? including gas and petrol ? to soar.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAFTER YESTERDAY?S ROADBLOCKS, NO NEW RESTRICTIONS\nREPORTED BY UN IN ERITREA\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eNo new restrictions have been reported today\nfrom Eritrea on the regrouping of the United Nations peacekeepers there\nin preparation for their temporary relocation to Ethiopia, though the vehicles\nblocked yesterday were unable to complete their tasks.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eAccording to the UN Mission in Ethiopia and\nEritrea (UNMEE), the majority of peacekeepers from the Jordanian, Indian\nand Kenyan battalions, along with most military observers, have now relocated\nto Eritrea?s capital, Asmara, from the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) that\nseparates the two countries, which fought a bloody border war that ended\nin 2000.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e",1]);//--></SCRIPT>

    The relief and recovery programmes are being organized by UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children?s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Programme (WFP), who responded to an appeal for help by the Moldovan Government last July.

    Rainfall was so sparse last year that some regions of the small Eastern European nation experienced no rain for four consecutive months, and the overall totals for the year were 50 to 75 per cent below average.

    The drought ? considered the worst since 1946 ? hit Moldova particularly hard because its economy is so dependent on agriculture, which provides a livelihood for two-thirds of the population of roughly 4.5 million. About 84 per cent of arable land was affected.

    Ms. Immonen said a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that the agricultural sector lost 100,000 jobs, while inflation caused the price of many basic goods and services ? including gas and petrol ? to soar.

    MADAGASCAR: UN FOOD AGENCY BEGINS PROVIDING AID TO CYCLONE VICTIMS

    The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing emergency food assistance to tens of thousands of people in Madagascar, where at least 73 people have died and almost 150,000 others have been left homeless after Cyclone Ivan battered the island nation last week.

    WFP has already handed out three-day rations of high-energy biscuits to 2,000 Malagasy living in tents in the capital, Antananarivo, after their homes were destroyed by the cyclonic winds, which reached speeds of about 190 kilometres per hour when it struck the country on 17 February.

    Later this week it expects to distribute corn-soya blend porridge to some of the tent camps, the agency said in a press statement, adding that general food distributions and food-for-work activities will also start in the coming days.

    WFP has also provided 500 kilograms of the biscuits along the east coast and on the small island of St. Marie, the regions worst affected by Cyclone Ivan, the latest in a series of storms this season to strike Madagascar.

    In anticipation of the annual cyclone season in the Indian Ocean country, WFP pre-positioned food in strategic locations, and it currently has about 3,000 tons of food ? including rice, pulses, oil and biscuits ? in its warehouse in the north-eastern port city of Toamasina.

    But with about 140,000 people estimated to need 2,000 tons of immediate food assistance, WFP said it expects to face a shortage of rice and vegetable oil by April.<SCRIPT><!--D(["mb","\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eSECRETARY-GENERAL TO ADDRESS GENEVA-BASED\nHUMAN RIGHTS, TRADE BODIES NEXT WEEK\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel\non Monday to Geneva, where he will address the seventh session of the Human\nRights Council as well as the executive session of the board of the United\nNations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?The Secretary-General is putting particular\nemphasis this year on human rights issues, as we mark the 60th anniversary\nof the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,? his spokesperson, Michele\nMontas, told journalists today.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e?He looks to the Human Rights Council to\nmake every effort to meet the expectations of the international community,\nand to strengthen and make effective the Universal Periodic Review to the\nfullest extent possible,? she added, referring to a new mechanism which\nallows the human rights records of every country to be scrutinized. \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eBefore leaving for Geneva, Mr. Ban will travel\non Friday to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College\nStation, Texas, where he has been invited by former United States President\nGeorge Herbert Walker Bush to give a lecture on US-UN relations.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c br\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e* * *\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eBOSNIAN SERB SOLDIER CONVICTED BY UN TRIBUNAL\nTO SERVE JAIL TERM IN BELGIUM\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eA former Bosnian Serb soldier and military\npoliceman convicted by a United Nations war crimes tribunal of torturing\nand raping Muslim women and girls during the Balkan wars of the 1990s will\nserve the remainder of his 15-year jail term in Belgium.\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eThe International Criminal Tribunal for the\nformer Yugoslavia (ICTY), which sits in The Hague in the Netherlands, announced\ntoday that Dragan Zelenovi ć has been transferred to detention in Belgium.",1]);//--></SCRIPT>

    Click here for a PDF version of the UN Daily News: http://www.un.org/News/dh/pdf<WBR>/english/2008/27022008.pdf
    For more details go to UN News Centre at: <SCRIPT><!--D(["mb","http://www.un.org/news\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTo listen to news and in-depth programmes\nfrom UN Radio go to: \u003ca href\u003d\"http://radio.un.org/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\u003ehttp://radio.un.org/\u003c/a\u003e \u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfo nt size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003e------------------------------\u003cWBR\u003e---------------------------\u003c/font\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\u003eTo change your profile or unsubscribe go\nto: \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\u003ehttp://www.un.org/apps/news\u003cWBR\u003e/email/\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/font\u003e",0]);D(["ce"]);//--></SCRIPT>http://www.un.org/news
    To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: UN DAILY NEWS

      UN DAILY NEWS from the
      UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

      28 February, 2008

      NEW UN-FINANCED JOB PROJECTS IN HAITIAN CAPITAL SET TO HELP OVER 7,000 PEOPLE


      The United Nations peacekeeping mission to Haiti has announced it will fund six projects that are expected to eventually provide temporary jobs to more than 7,000 people living in the notorious Cit? Soleil and Martissant neighbourhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

      In a press conference held yesterday in Port-au-Prince, representatives of the mission ? known as MINUSTAH ? said at least $522,000 will be spent on the projects, which will focus on street paving, sanitation and rebuilding and improving public spaces.

      Cit? Soleil and Martissant have long been renowned as centres of high crime, poverty and unemployment, and the projects aim to break the link between the phenomena. Both former gunmen and the victims of violence are expected to benefit from the jobs produced by the projects.

      Adama Ndao, a MINUSTAH official specializing in trying to reduce community violence, told the press conference that the projects are scheduled to begin at the start of next month.

      The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will help carry out the projects, along with the municipalities of Port-au-Prince and Cit? Soleil.


      * * *

      UN PROVIDES VACCINES TO HELP IN PARAGUAYAN FIGHT AGAINST YELLOW FEVER OUTBREAK

      The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has organized the supply of two million doses of yellow fever vaccine to Paraguay as health authorities in the South American country battle a deadly outbreak of the viral disease.

      The vaccine doses were obtained from the WHO?s International Coordinating Group on Provision of Vaccines, the agency said in an update released today. Brazil has sent 850,000 doses and Peru has dispatched 144,000, adding to the 300,000 that Paraguay already has on reserve.

      More than one million people who live in or travel to the areas affected by the outbreak ? which are largely the rural areas of the departments of San Pedro and Central, north and east of Asunci?n, the capital ? have already been vaccinated, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

      Widespread spraying is also taking place to try to control the spread of yellow fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

      So far, 16 cases have been confirmed and another 15 are being investigated. Three people have died, all in San Lorenzo municipality, which lies in Central department close to Asunci?n. It follows a similar outbreak late last year and early this year in three states in neighbouring Brazil. In that outbreak, 13 people died.

      Yellow fever derives its name from the jaundice that affects some sufferers, who tend to experience fever, muscle pain, headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting and/or nausea. While most patients recover, the disease can be deadly and the number of infected people has risen in recent years, despite the availability of an effective vaccine.


      HARSH CENTRAL ASIAN WINTER SHOWS NEED TO BOOST DISASTER PLANNING ? UN AGENCY

      The United Nations agency tasked with minimizing the threat posed by natural disasters today called on governments across Central Asia, which is facing its harshest winter in three decades, to swiftly implement measures so that they are better prepared to deal with the expected floods in the spring.

      Floods remain the natural hazard that most affects the global population, with more than 164 million people suffering as a result of inundations last year, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) said in a press statement issued from its headquarters in Geneva.

      S?lvano Brice?o, Director of the ISDR Secretariat, warned that experts believe this year?s spring flooding is expected to be especially severe in Central Asia as temperatures inevitably rise and snow begins to melt.

      Already, floods have brought damage to some regions of Kazakhstan, destroying roads, bridges, schools and swathes of farmland, while in Tajikistan authorities are repairing the national electricity system after services were disrupted because of the weather conditions. Parts of Afghanistan have also been hard hit.

      Mr. Brice?o called on the region?s governments to implement the Hyogo Framework of Action, agreed on by the world?s countries in January 2005 as a global blueprint for reducing the impact of natural disasters.

      The framework includes strategies for improving emergency preparedness, strengthening public institutions? capacity to respond during crises and ensuring there is more sustainable development, particularly in vulnerable areas, such as flood plains.

      ?Governments have managed to save lives, which is, of course, extremely important,? said Mr. Brice?o, referring to the situation so far this winter in Central Asia. ?But this disaster can have long-term consequences on people?s lives and livelihoods that also need to be addressed?

      ?We know how to save lives, which is an enormous victory, but we need to invest more in adaptation measures. We need to change our agriculture patterns and set up financial mechanisms that can allow people to survive from the long-term consequences of flooding.?

      The Kazakh Government has started temporarily relocating some of the most vulnerable communities and both Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are setting up national programmes to prioritize their disaster policies.


      Comment


      • #4
        Re: UN DAILY NEWS

        UN DAILY NEWS from the
        UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
        26 March, 2008 ================================================== =======================


        DUCKS AND RICE MAJOR FACTORS IN BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS, SAYS UN AGENCY

        Ducks, rice and people ? and not chickens ? have emerged as the most significant factors in the spread of avian influenza in Thailand and Viet Nam, according to a study carried out by a group of experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and associated research centres.

        ?Mapping H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza risk in Southeast Asia: ducks, rice and people? also finds that these factors are probably behind persistent outbreaks in other countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

        The study, which examined a series of waves of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Thailand and Viet Nam between early 2004 and late 2005, was initiated and coordinated by FAO senior veterinary officer Jan Slingenbergh and just published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States.

        Through the use of satellite mapping, researchers looked at a number of different factors, including the numbers of ducks, geese and chickens, human population size, rice cultivation and geography, and found a strong link between duck grazing patterns and rice cropping intensity.

        In Thailand, for example, the proportion of young ducks in flocks was found to peak in September-October; these rapidly growing young ducks can therefore benefit from the peak of the rice harvest in November-December.

        ?These peaks in congregation of ducks indicate periods in which there is an increase in the chances for virus release and exposure, and rice paddies often become a temporary habitat for wild bird species,? the agency said in a news release.

        ?We now know much better where and when to expect H5N1 flare-ups, and this helps to target prevention and control,? said Mr. Slingenbergh. ?In addition, with virus persistence becoming increasingly confined to areas with intensive rice-duck agriculture in eastern and south-eastern Asia, evolution of the H5N1 virus may become easier to predict.?

        He said the findings can help better target control efforts and replace indiscriminate mass vaccination.

        FAO estimates that approximately 90 per cent of the world?s more than 1 billion domestic ducks are in Asia, with about 75 per cent of that in China and Viet Nam. Thailand has about 11 million ducks.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: UN DAILY NEWS

          UN DAILY NEWS from the
          UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
          20 May, 2008

          HEADING FOR MYANMAR,
          BAN KI-MOON PLEDGES TO DO
          ?UTMOST? TO SPEED AID EFFORTS


          As he prepared to leave for Myanmar today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he will do all he can to reinforce the immediate relief effort in the cyclone-devastated country and will also draw attention to the need for long-term reconstruction and development.

          ?I will do my utmost for the people of Myanmar,? Mr. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. ?I want to see the conditions under which relief teams are working and I intend to do all I can to reinforce their efforts in coordination with the Myanmar?s authorities and international aid agencies.?

          Mr. Ban will arrive in Yangon, Myanmar, early Thursday morning and is set to tour the Irrawaddy delta area ? the part of the country most affected by the cyclone. He said the UN had a functioning relief programme in place but cautioned that it is a ?critical moment? for the country and said that so far aid workers had been able to reach only about 25 per cent of people in need in Myanmar. According to UN estimates, some 2.4 million people have been severely affected by Cyclone Nargis.

          On Sunday, the Secretary-General will participate in a pledging conference co-sponsored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to raise funds for the aid effort from international donors.

          Mr. Ban said he was travelling to Myanmar to ?demonstrate my sympathy to the people and Government at this time of crisis and challenge, and to see for myself the situation on the ground.? He described the disaster caused by the cyclone as ?unprecedented in Myanmar?s history.?

          The Secretary-General said he would coordinate closely with ASEAN and Myanmarese officials and said he was confident that relief efforts could be scaled up quickly. He added that the UN had received Government permission to operate nine World Food Programme (WFP) helicopters which would allow aid workers to reach areas that have so far been largely inaccessible.

          Mr. Ban also stressed that the international community had to give thought to Myanmar?s long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said that Cyclone Nargis had ?devastated Myanmar?s agricultural heartland? and that it may already be too late for farmers to plant the next harvest. ?In this sense the economic effects of the natural disaster that has struck Myanmar could be more severe and longer lasting than the 2004 tsunami,? he added.

          Major relief efforts continue in Myanmar from the WFP, the UN Children?s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), who among them have delivered food, medical supplies, shelter materials and water purification equipment, and have been monitoring for the outbreak of disease.

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