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Wildfires:
"How and where we build our houses are crucial
decisions..."
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After
the fires in southern California last week, the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) - the
United Nations agency dealing with disaster reduction
- is highlighting the importance of urban planning and
building regulations to reduce our vulnerability to all
disasters.
Wildfires
are significant hazards that affect millions of people
every year and cause huge losses. Wildfires
in Greece in August killed 70 people and caused enormous
destruction. The
damage of the current Californian fires destroyed more
than 2,000 houses and will remain as one of the costliest
fires in the history of the United States.
"How and where we build our
houses are crucial decisions that can reduce or increase
our vulnerability to disasters," says Salvano Briceño,
Director of the ISDR secretariat. "Increased
urbanization combined with climate change is creating new
stresses on cities - and this intensified urban
vulnerability needs to be systematically addressed, if we
are to better protect the world's rapidly growing urban
population and avoid more
tragedies."
The
Hyogo
Framework for Action adopted by 168 governments
in January 2005 shortly after the December 2004 tsunami
lists practical measures that can reduce hazard risk and
vulnerability for cities. Better urban planning and land
use decisions, improved building codes, and using disaster
resistant materials are some ways recommended to better
protect houses and neighborhoods.
The
Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change predicted in its last
report that climate change will increase the frequency and
severity of extreme weather events, including droughts and
heat waves. This will increase fire risks and make more
communities vulnerable to fires.
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SG on Lebanon: It's time for the foreign interference
to stop
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 Lebanon
continues to experience political crisis and instability
with a significant number of recent bomb attacks and
assassinations, says a new
report released by UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon.
The
report indicates that the Lebanese Government continues
"to make progress to extend its authority over all
Lebanese territory, disarm and disband militias, and
assert its sovereignty, territorial integrity and
political independence, most notably with the successful
battle against and containment of Fatah
al-Islam in the Nahr
al-Bared refugee camp."
"The pattern of political assassinations in Lebanon
strongly suggests a concerted effort at undermining the
democratic institutions of Lebanon," said the
Secretary-General in the report.
 The
sixth semi-annual report of the Secretary-General to the
Secretary Council provides an update on the implementation
of Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for
the withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon and
reaffirms the control of the Government of Lebanon over
all Lebanese territory.
"I
have again received information that appears to
corroborate the allegation that Syria facilitates the flow
of weapons and fighters across the Syrian-Lebanon
border," said Secretary-General Ban in his report.
"It is time that foreign interference stop and that
the people of Lebanon determine the fate of Lebanon."
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| Southern
Lebanon: Keeping the Peace Against All Odds |
 Over
the past year, a more robust UN Peacekeeping force in
Southern Lebanon has carried out its mission to put
an end to the fighting that claimed hundreds of lives and
left tens of thousands homeless.
Never
before had the UN been asked to move as quickly as it was
in the summer of 2006, after cross-border clashes between Israel
and Hezbollah. Today, the UN force in Southern Lebanon ( UNIFIL)
represents an untold success story.
Originally,
UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in 1978 to
confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore
international peace and security and assist the Lebanese
Government in restoring its effective authority in the
area.
Following
the July/August 2006 crisis, the Council enhanced the
Force and decided that in addition to the original
mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the
cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the
Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the south
of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure
humanitarian access to civilian populations and the
voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.
The
first elements of the expanded force were deployed with
record-breaking speed for any peacekeeping operation of
such complexity, with battalions from France, Italy and
Spain arriving to the area of operation by 15 September,
and joining the contingents already in place from Ghana
and India.
The
swift and effective deployment of the expanded UNIFIL and
the activities that the Force has undertaken since than on
a daily basis have helped prevent a recurrence of
hostilities across the Blue Line and has contributed to
the establishment of a new strategic military and
security environment in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL
Quick Facts
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13,264
military personnel support the mission along with some 279
international civilians and 452 local civilian staff
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Mission
Duration: March 1978 to the Present
-
The
mission is located in Southern Lebanon and the
headquarters is in Naqoura.
-
Mission's
2007-2008 budget is $748 million
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Meet
the UN
USG
Visits Washington This week
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Under-Secretary-General
for Management
United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Ms.
Alicia Bárcena Ibarra of Mexico as
Under-Secretary-General for Management on January 3, 2007.
Ms. Bárcena had been serving as Chef de Cabinet to former
Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Ms.
Bárcena previously served as Deputy Executive Secretary
of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC). In this position, she has actively
promoted the implementation of the Millennium Development
Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Cookie Break
UN
Photo of the Week
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MINUSTAH
Peacekeeper Offers Orphans Cookies
A
member of the Nepalese battalion of the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) hands out
cookies to orphans, as part of the activities of the
United Nations Day event in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti last
week. ©
UN
Photo/Logan Abassi
Read
more...
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About the UN Information Center
As the UN Secretariat's office in Washington, D.C., the
United
Nations Information Center
articulates UN priorities and activities on a timely
basis, raises awareness of the UN and its work, and fosters
relations with the American public, US government
officials, and NGOs.
Should you need more information
about the Center or UN affiliated agencies, please do
not hesitate to contact us at 202-331-8670 or at unicdc@unicwash.org.
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New
UN
Agency
Reports
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Here is a sample of UN agency reports recently
released:
The UN Environmental
Programme (UNEP) published a new report entitled, Beijing
2008 Olympic Games - An Environmental Review 2007
(pdf)
The Economic Commission on
Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) published a new
report entitled, Migration
Data Collection, Management, Sharing in the Caribbean
(pdf)
The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) published a new report entitled, Northern
Star: Canada's Path to Economic Prosperity
The UN Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) published a new report entitled, World
Investment Report 2007
The UN Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published a
new report entitled, Science,
Technology and Gender: An International Report
The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) published a new brochure entitled, Climate
information for adaptation and development needs
(pdf)
The World Bank published a
new report entitled, Indonesia
- ID National Program for Community Empowerment
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Monday, October
29
UN Security Council holds
private talks with troop-contributing countries for the UN
mission in southern Sudan. Security Council also due to
adopt a resolution extending sanctions on Ivory Coast.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, UN
expert on human rights in Myanmar, to visit Thailand.
UN Committee of Experts on
International Cooperation in Tax Matters meets in Geneva
through Friday.
UN
Investments Committee meets in New York.
President
of the General Assembly Srgjan Kerim, Richard Cook of the
UN Relief and Works Agency's Lebanon office, Assistant
Secretary General for Policy Planning Bob Orr, and Special
Representative of the Secretary General for Nepal Ian
Martin are in Washington for meetings with US officials.
Tuesday,
October 30
UN
International Narcotics Control Board holds its 90th
session in Vienna through November 16.
Briefing
on the UNITAR Peace and Security Series titled, " A
humanitarian dilemma: protecting civilians and promoting
justice"
will be held in NY.
Edward
J. Flynn, Senior Human Rights Officer of the United
Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate,
in Washington for a luncheon hosted by The Stanley
Foundation.
Wednesday, October
31
8th
UN Inter-Agency Consultations, organized by the Office of
the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries,
Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island
Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), will be held in New York.
Briefing
by the UN Conference on Trade and Development on its
report, "Economic development in Africa - Reclaiming
policy space: Domestic resource mobilization and
developmental States" in New York.
Mr.
Martin Scheinin, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion
and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms
while countering terrorism, will be in Washington for
meetings.
Thursday,
November 1
International
Labor Organization's 300th Session of the Governing Body
meets through November 16.
Under
Secretary-General for Management Alicia Barcena, Assistant
Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Carolyn
McAskie, and the Special Representative of the Secretary
General for Cote d'Ivoire Ambassador Choi Young-Jin will
be in Washington for meetings with US officials.
Friday,
November 2
Briefing
by the UN Conference on Trade and Development on its
report, World
Investment Report 2007 in New York.
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