Latest news on the Asia-Pacific region from the United Nations

After more than 20 years of "fruitless endeavours," the Security Council might wish to consider adopting a comprehensive approach to settling the conflict in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan suggests in a new report released today.

A 284-strong contingent of activists from a volunteer arm of the United Nations spread out today across all districts of East Timor to finalize arrangements for the territory's historic Constituent Assembly elections set for 30 August.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called on the Taliban authorities to stop making baseless allegations against the agency and its staff in Afghanistan.

Building upon its unprecedented campaign to protect children against infectious diseases, a global partnership backed by United Nations agencies has launched in Cambodia a multi-country five-year effort to increase access to vaccination for children throughout Southeast Asia.

With less than two weeks remaining before East Timor's elections, ballot papers arrived in the territory under tight security, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) announced today.

The head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today said that the campaign for the territory's upcoming elections was proceeding peacefully and that the East Timorese people deserved praise for embracing the political process with energy and determination.

Following the record rains that struck Iran a week ago, the United Nations refugee agency today began loading trucks with shelter materials for delivery to one of the country's northeastern provinces.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan remained concerned at the continued detention of eight international and 16 national aid workers in Afghanistan and appealed to the Taliban authorities for a speedy solution, his spokesman said today.