Latest news on the Asia-Pacific region from the United Nations
- The United Nations will provide 20,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets in temporary shelters and other areas in flood-hit Thailand in a bid to protect people from dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, as weather forecasts predict more heavy rainfall over the weekend.
- The United Nations refugee agency said today it is scaling up its help to people fleeing recent fighting in north-western Pakistan.
- The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern about the apparent use of excessive force against protesters on the weekend by Malaysian police and possible retaliation against demonstrators who were arrested and released.
- Boosting cooperation between countries sharing the waters of the Amu Darya, Central Asia’s longest river, could be key to future peace and security in the region, a new report launched today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says.
- With its 30 agencies, funds and programmes providing aid in every one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the United Nations stands ready to support the country’s assumption of the lead role in all aspects of governance, development, and efforts to achieve peace, a senior UN envoy said today.
- From blankets to emergency communications equipment to technological expertise, United Nations agencies are rushing assistance to Japan to help cope with the multi-front disaster caused by last week’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant breakdown.
- Repeatedly calling the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan “very serious,” the head of the United Nations agency that coordinates global nuclear safety announced today that he will make a flying visit to the country to see what further help he can offer.
- Several matches during the upcoming Asian Cup football tournament, which opens in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, will be dedicated to the fight against hunger and poverty, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his concern at the heavy toll the ongoing floods have taken on lives and property across much of north-eastern Australia.
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the assassination today of the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Salman Taseer.
- The challenge posed by the deadly floods in Pakistan require the international community's continued commitment to relief, recovery and reconstruction in the coming months, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today.
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the courage and determination of the men and women of Afghanistan for voting in today's parliamentary elections.
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has held his first meeting with the panel of experts set up to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during the final stages last year of the conflict in Sri Lanka.