Pacific 

Philippines: More support needed for thousands still reeling from Typhoon Rai

The revised Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan (HNP) targets 840,000 people over six months, up from 530,000 in the initial $107 million HNP, released on 24 December.  📢 7 weeks after #typhoonRai/#OdettePH: – 9.9M people severely affected – 840K people targeted for assistance– $169M funding requested The UN and partners are providing food, shelter material and other essentials but more… Read More
Pacific 

Six women’s rights activists still missing in Afghanistan 

“We are gravely concerned for their well-being and safety”, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva.  Despite the de facto authorities’ announcement on Saturday of an investigation into the disappearance two weeks ago of these individuals, “there is still no confirmed information on their whereabouts”, she added.  The UN human rights… Read More
Pacific 

DPR Korea: UN chief condemns missile launch as ‘clear violation’

“This is a breaking of the DPRK’s announced moratorium in 2018 on launches of this nature, and a clear violation of Security Council resolutions”, he said in a statement issued by his deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq. Secretary-General @antonioguterres condemns the possible intermediate range ballistic missile launch by the DPR Korea, noting it is of great concern that the country has again disregarded any consideration for… Read More
Pacific 

‘Window of opportunity’ for unity opens in Myanmar

Speaking to journalists in New York, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Noeleen Heyzer, urged the international community to “use this opening to help Myanmar work towards a common vision for their country.” “The road ahead will be long and difficult, but the time to act is now”, she said.  Escalation According to her, there has been “a broad-based resistance movement built… Read More
Pacific 

‘Urgent, renewed effort’ needed to restore civilian rule in Myanmar: Bachelet

Ms. Bachelet reported that this week she spoke in person with “determined, courageous” human rights defenders who are pleading for the international community not to abandon them, but to take robust effective measures to ensure their rights are protected and that the military is held accountable.  Heed the call  “I urge governments – in the region and beyond – as… Read More
Pacific 

‘We cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan’ Guterres tells Security Council

“At this moment, we need the global community – and this Council – to put their hands on the wheel of progress, provide resources, and prevent Afghanistan from spiraling any further,” he said.  Daily life has become a frozen hell for the people of Afghanistan. As a matter of moral responsibility — and regional and global security and prosperity —… Read More
Pacific 

Tonga tsunami: ‘Kids were screaming as if a war was upon us’

Pauline Vaiangina, her husband, and their four young children, who live in Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island, were visiting their grandmother on the tiny remote island, when Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai erupted. Sudden explosions “It was a Saturday like any other”, says Pauline. We had just finished eating fish for dinner and I was washing the plates, when the dogs barked… Read More
Pacific 

January will ‘almost certainly’ shatter records for civilian casualties in Yemen

In a joint statement, Hans Grundberg and David Gressley said they were alarmed by the situation and confirmed that January will “almost certainly” be a record-shattering month for civilian casualties in Yemen. Mr. Grundberg and Mr. Gressley also reiterate the UN Secretary-General’s condemnation of air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led Coalition on 21 January against a prison facility in Sa’dah, where migrants were also held. The airstrikes reportedly killed 91 detainees… Read More
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