Category: Pacific

“Given the security presence on the streets in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, as well as in other cities, there are deep fears of a violent crackdown on dissenting voices”, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Monday.  “I remind the military leadership that Myanmar is bound by international human rights law, including to respect the right to… Read More

In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Sunday, Secretary-General António Guterres also voiced “grave concern” regarding the declaration of the transfer of all legislative, executive and judicial powers to the military.  “These developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms in Myanmar”, the statement said.  Volkan Bozkir, President of the UN General Assembly, also voiced concerns over the situation… Read More

The Tonga Rural Innovation Project © IFAD/ Todd M. Henry COVID-related travel restrictions, and increasing prices of imports, have created new challenges, on top of destructive weather events, such as tropical cyclones which can sweep over the archipelago, destroying crops and infrastructure. UN-supported projects are encouraging the inhabitants of Tonga’s 36 inhabited islands to return to rural areas and grow food,… Read More

The child workers run considerable risks: in just one day, in July 2020, some 200 people died in a mudslide at a jade mining site in Hpakant. The International Labour Organization (ILO) in Myanmar has successfully helped to halve child labour in three communities, as part of a pilot project and, with 2021 marking the International Year for… Read More

“The Secretary-General is following with great concern recent developments in Myanmar”, his spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.  Tensions have been rising following the outcomes of the November 2020 general elections, in which Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD) claimed an overwhelming victory.  According to media reports, other political parties disputed the results, alleging the polls… Read More

According to the 2020 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, the region’s poor have been worst affected, forced to choose cheaper and less nutritious foods. The report is jointly produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  “The outbreak of COVID-19 and a… Read More

On 16 January, the first day of the campaign, 207,229 vaccine shots were given across the country, one of the worst-hit by COVID-19, with over 10 million COVID-19 infections and 150,000 deaths.  “ provided technical assistance to the Government of India for the development of operational guidelines and other training materials for state and district programme managers and vaccinators, and… Read More

The earthquake unleashed dozens of aftershocks, some six kilometres northeast of the city of Majene,  causing heavy damage across the city, including to the five-story Mitra Manakarra Hospital where eight people were reportedly trapped inside.   “The Governor’s office, two hotels, a mall, a community health centre, and over 300 houses also sustained damage”, said the spokesperson for the UN Office… Read More

The fire erupted shortly after midnight on Thursday (local time) in the Nayapara refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, gutting about 550 shelters and 150 shops. A community centre is also said to have been destroyed.  This week, a large fire broke out in the #Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, #Bangladesh. There were no casualties, but 3500 people were affected and… Read More

The fire erupted shortly after midnight on Thursday (local time) in the Nayapara refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, gutting about 550 shelters and 150 shops. A community centre is also said to have been destroyed.  This week, a large fire broke out in the #Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, #Bangladesh. There were no casualties, but 3500 people were affected and… Read More