Pacific 

South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19

In a new report, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that the impact also included sharp drops in the number of young children treated for severe acute malnutrition as well as in childhood immunizations.   Drastic cuts in health across South Asia due to COVID-19 have been deadly for children. It’s vital… Read More
Pacific 

UN agency raises alarm over rising food and fuel prices in Myanmar

According to the agency, while the price of the staple, rice, rose by about 3 per cent on average in monitored markets across the country, some townships reported spikes of as high as 20 to 35 per cent, between mid-January to mid-February.  “These initial signs are troubling, especially for the most vulnerable people who were already living meal-to-meal”, Stephen Anderson,… Read More
Pacific 

Myanmar crisis: UN Special Envoy condemns ‘ongoing brutality’, as dozens reported killed over weekend

Over the weekend, violence continued to rage across the south-east Asian nation and, according to media reports, dozens of people lost their lives, including 38 on Sunday alone.   The ongoing brutality, including against medical personnel and destruction of public infrastructure, severely undermines any prospects for peace and stability – Special Envoy Schraner Burgener  In a statement on Sunday, Special Envoy… Read More
Pacific 

UN agency raises alarm over ‘targeted’ violence against women in Myanmar protests

In addition, women in detention are also reportedly experiencing sexual harassment and violence, UN-Women said in a statement on Friday.  UN Women Executive Director @phumzileunwomen condemns the violent crackdown in #Myanmar & expresses deep concern over targeted & disproportionate violence against women, calls for respect of the right of women to peaceful assembly & release of all detained https://t.co/Otkhrmnvpe —… Read More
Pacific 

Myanmar crackdown has led to likely crimes against humanity, Human Rights Council told

Calling for a united global response, Special Rapporteur, Thomas Andrews said that “the people of Myanmar need not only words of support but supportive action. They need the help of the international community, now”. ‘Wholly insufficient’ According to the independent rights expert, appointed by the Council with a three-year unpaid mandate, Wednesday’s UN Security Council statement expressing ambassadors’ deep concern about developments in Myanmar are welcome… Read More
Pacific 

Asia-Pacific: UN forum highlights central role of migrants in world’s most populous region

Addressing a UN regional forum on migration, António Vitorino, Director-General of the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) underlined the key role migrants played before, during and after the worst of the pandemic’s waves.  “From healthcare to logistics, food supply chains to agriculture, and social services, migrants working alongside nationals have risen to the challenge and made a marked contribution… Read More
Pacific 

Myanmar: UN Security Council ‘strongly condemns’ violence against protesters

In a presidential statement, issued on Wednesday by the representative of the United States, Council President for March, the 15-member body also reiterated its call for the immediate release of all those detained arbitrarily, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.  “The Security Council expresses its continued support for the democratic transition in Myanmar, and stresses… Read More
Pacific 

COVID contributed to ‘starvation’, executions in DPR Korea, Rights Council hears

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana, highlighted “deaths by starvation” linked to a “drastic” decline in trade and commerce, as well as an increase in the number of children and elderly people forced to beg. Severe containment measures had also led to “a number of concerning consequences” that… Read More
Pacific 

Disaster preparedness is key, 10 years on from Japan quake and tsunami: UN

Known officially as the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, António Guterres expressed his condolences, “to those who continue to grieve the loss of loved ones. In 2 days we mark the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Over 18,400 people are dead or missing. This #tsunami evacuation tower in Sendai is a sign of how #Japan has… Read More
Pacific 

Philippines: UN rights office appalled over simultaneous killings of ‘red-tagged’ activists  

According to spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR received information stating that at around 3:15am on Sunday, eight men and one woman were killed in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal as police and military executed search warrants issued by a Manila court.  “We are deeply worried that these latest killings indicate an escalation in violence, intimidation, harassment and ‘red-tagging’ of human rights… Read More
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