Pacific 

Afghanistan: World must act on ‘make or break moment’ – UN chief 

“If we do not act and help Afghans weather this storm, and do it soon, not only they but all the world will pay a heavy price”, Mr. Guterres told journalists in New York, ahead of Tuesday, when G20 leading industrialized nations will meet to discuss the country embroiled in crisis.   Currently, at least 18 million people, or about half of the country’s population are affected.  “Without food, without jobs, without their rights protected, we will see more… Read More
Pacific 

Trade can play a pivotal role in addressing climate change, says UN report 

Around 16 million new jobs could be created in clean energy, energy efficiency, engineering, manufacturing and construction industries in the Asia-Pacific region, more than compensating for the estimated loss of five million jobs by downscaling industries.  The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2021 was jointly launched on Monday by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). … Read More
Pacific 

Afghanistan: Humanitarians call for greater support as winter approaches

Afghanistan was already among the world’s worst humanitarian situations prior to the Taliban assuming power in August, which has deepened existing needs and vulnerabilities.   🚨🚨🚨Conflict, displacement, economic collapse, COVID-19, a failing health system… Afghans have endured 40 years of hardship. The situation is worsening for millions of vulnerable people. Here are 9 facts you need to know about #Afghanistan now⤵️… Read More
Pacific 

Half of Afghanistan’s under-5s expected to suffer acute malnutrition 

Acute food insecurity is affecting 14 million people in Afghanistan who are without reliable access to water, food and basic health and nutrition services, following years of conflict and the economic crisis, which has been exacerbated following the Taliban takeover in August.  The alarm was sounded following a two-day visit to the city of Herat by Hervé Ludovic De Lys, UN Children’s Fund… Read More
Pacific 

UN rights chief calls for investigation into ‘heartbreaking’ killing of veteran Rohingya activist

Mohib Ullah, chair of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), was shot dead on Wednesday by unknown assailants in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, located in the south of the country. The camp was established in August 2017 and houses more than 750,000 Rohingya, a mainly Muslim minority group from neighbouring Myanmar, who fled… Read More
Pacific 

‘Urgent’ international response needed in Myanmar: UN chief 

The country has been in protracted crisis since Myanmar’s military leadership ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1.   It claimed with little evidence that the general election her party won last November in a landslide, was marred by voter fraud.  The takeover sparked widespread street protests, which were violently supressed by military and security forces.  More than… Read More
Pacific 

Iraq: ‘Moral obligation’ to ensure justice for Yazidi and other survivors of ISIL crimes 

On 1 March, the Iraqi Parliament passed the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL) to deliver long-awaited support not only for Yazidi women, but other ethno-religious survivors targeted by the ISIL extremist group, when it occupied large swathes of Iraq from 2014-2017.  “This law represents one concrete step taken by the Government of Iraq in the implementation of the Joint Communiqué on the Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence signed… Read More
Pacific 

Afghanistan: Rapid decline in public health conditions, WHO warns

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 response has also declined and almost half of the country’s children are at risk of malnutrition. Moreover, the agency pointed out that only 17 per cent of the over 2,300 health facilities previously supported by the World Bank, are fully functional, two-thirds of which have run out of essential medicines. The… Read More
Pacific 

Yemen: Endless suffering of children continues due to war, aid crisis 

Published on Monday, the report detailed how these youngsters were victims of the indiscriminate use of mortar and artillery shelling, ground fighting, anti-personnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war.    In total, more than 3,500 children suffered one or more grave violations; chief among these was the denial of humanitarian access, killing and maiming, and the recruitment and use of… Read More
Pacific 

DPRK says it will ‘respond willingly’ if US abandons ‘hostile policy’ 

“But it is our judgment that there is no prospect, at the present stage, for the US to really withdraw its hostile policy towards the DPRK,” he added.  The Ambassador was speaking on the sixth, and final day of the high-level week of the General Assembly. After being held virtually last year due the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s gathering featured “hybrid” activities that included leaders in person along with virtual participants.     United… Read More
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