UN DOWNGRADES ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR 2009; POORER COUNTRIES TO SUFFER MOST

UN DOWNGRADES ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR 2009; POORER COUNTRIES TO SUFFER MOST
New York, May 27 2009 4:00PM
The United Nations has downgraded its economic forecast for 2009, from an already pessimistic estimate made five months ago, and said the poorest countries would be hit the hardest.

"The world economy is expected to shrink by 2.6 per cent in 2009, down from a decline by 0.5 per cent according to the pessimistic scenario of the forecast presented in January," according to a press release on the mid-year report "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2009," by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (<"http://www.un.org/esa/desa/">DESA).

Rob Vos, Director of DESA's Development Policy and Analysis Division, told a news conference in New York, "We are less sanguine than some observers about possible green shoots emerging. If they are there they don't give much sign of being spring time. It is still very wintry landscape."

With its increasing impact both in scope and depth worldwide, the global financial crisis poses a significant threat to world economic and social development, including the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, according to DESA.

Although the crisis originated in developed countries, "it is now evident that developing countries are being hit disproportionately hard through capital reversals, rising borrowing costs, collapsing world trade and commodity prices, and subsiding remittance flows," it stated.

During the first quarter of this year, world trade dwindled at a "dramatic" annual rate of more than 40 per cent, with the deepest impact felt by the exporting countries of Asia.

Growth in Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to slow to 0.9 per cent, down from 4.9 per cent in 2008. South American economies are expected to shrink by almost one per cent on average in 2009, while Mexico and the Central American economies are projected to fall by more than 4 per cent.

The report estimated that between 73 and 105 million more people will remain poor or fall into poverty in comparison with a situation in which pre-crisis growth would have continued.

"Most of this setback will be felt in East and South Asia, with between 56 and 80 million people likely to be affected, of whom about half are in India. The crisis could keep 12 to 16 million more people in poverty in Africa and another 4 million in Latin America and the Caribbean," it said.

The report added that at present the stimulus is very unbalanced. "Eighty per cent of the stimulus is concentrated in developed countries, while most developing countries lack the fiscal space to provide social protection and counteract the consequences of the crisis.

"In a more balanced global response, about $500 billion in additional development finance would be made available for countercyclical responses by developing countries."

The report predicted that with a coordinated, development-oriented policy scenario, the world economy would recover to an annual growth of 4-5 per cent in 2010-2015, led by a robust growth of 7 per cent per year in developing countries. This is in contrast to the uncoordinated scenario in which developing countries would recover at only half that rate," DESA said.
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NEW UN ONLINE TOOL SHOWS FOOD PRICES IN POOR COUNTRIES HAVE YET TO FALL

NEW UN ONLINE TOOL SHOWS FOOD PRICES IN POOR COUNTRIES HAVE YET TO FALL
New York, Mar 19 2009 9:00AM

A new online database of staple food prices on national markets in 55 developing countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe shows that local prices have not fallen the way they have at the global level, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.

The "National Basic Food Prices Data and Analysis Tool," developed by FAO as part of its response to high food prices, shows the prices of different food commodities in local currencies or dollars and local measurements as well as standard weights.

The interactive tool allows for price comparisons between domestic and international markets, between different markets in the same country, as well as between countries.

"While food prices have fallen internationally, as indicated by the FAO food price index, this tool shows that in developing countries they have not fallen so fast, or at all," said Liliana Balbi, a senior economist with FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System.

"The easy-to-use database will be an invaluable source of information for policy and decision-makers in agricultural production and trade, development and also humanitarian work."

FAO noted that a rise in food prices hits the poor the hardest given that the share of food in their total expenditures is much higher than that of wealthier populations. While food represents about 10-20 per cent of consumer spending in industrialised nations, it can be as much as 60-80 per cent in developing countries.

Depending on available funds, FAO plans to add new countries and series to the database, which has benefited from a financial contribution from Spain under the FAO Initiative on Soaring Food Prices.

According to the agency, 963 million people or around 15 per cent of the world's population are currently suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
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UN CONDEMNS FATAL AMBUSH OF DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS

UN CONDEMNS FATAL AMBUSH OF DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS
New York, Mar 17 2009 2:00PM

The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) condemned an ambush earlier today that led to the death of one blue helmet, the second such attack on peacekeepers in the strife-torn region of Sudan in a week.

"UNAMID strongly condemns these cowardly acts of violence against its peacekeepers and calls on all parties including the Government of Sudan to ensure the safety of UN personnel in the region," a UN spokesperson said in New York.

Approximately eight unknown gunmen opened fire on an escort patrol that was returning to its base in Nyala, South Darfur, wounding one peacekeeper as the blue helmets returned fire in self-defence, spokesperson Marie Okabe said.

The wounded soldier was immediately taken for medical treatment at the mission's hospital in Nyala and later died while being evacuated to Al Fasher for further medical treatment, according to UNAMID.

"These ongoing attacks against UNAMID peacekeepers will not dissuade us from pursuing our mandate in Darfur," AU-UN Joint Representative Rodolphe Adada said.

This is the second time in just over a week that UNAMID peacekeepers have been ambushed by unknown armed men while conducting their duties in Darfur, as concerns mount over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the recent indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

On 9 March four peacekeepers were shot and wounded in a patrol that was returning to its base in El Geneina, West Darfur, and, following that incident, a UN spokesperson said that the number of attacks against peacekeeping personnel and incidents of banditry in 2009 to that date had exceeded those for the entirety of 2008.

On the humanitarian front, the Secretary-General is continuing to make telephone calls to leaders in Africa and the Middle East to address the humanitarian situation in Darfur, according to Deputy Spokesperson Okabe.

Sudan decided to begin ejecting 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on 4 March, immediately after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced in the western region of Sudan, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.
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TOP UN ENVOY HAILS JOINT UGANDAN, CONGOLESE OPERATION AGAINST REBELS

TOP UN ENVOY HAILS JOINT UGANDAN, CONGOLESE OPERATION AGAINST REBELS
New York, Mar 16 2009 1:00PM

As Ugandan troops began withdrawing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a three-month joint operation to flush out a notorious rebel group, the United Nations' top envoy in the country praised the cooperative effort, the world body's mission there said today.

Marking the end of Operation Lightening and Thunder, meant to rout the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Alan Doss, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC), warned, however, that the group remained a threat.

"Operations in the current phase are finished but there are more bands [of LRA] still here. There is work to be done above all in the matter of the protection of the civilian population," Mr. Doss said at a ceremony yesterday attended by diplomats, ministers and military of the two countries.

Brutal attacks since last September by the LRA, notorious for abducting children as soldiers and sex slaves, have killed some 900 Congolese and displaced another 150,000.

While UN agencies and their partners are working – with the authorities, military forces in the area and MONUC – to expand humanitarian aid and step up efforts to protect the local population, they are facing several constraints, according to the Organization's humanitarian coordinator, John Holmes.

These include the huge 40,000 square kilometre area where the LRA is hiding, their dispersal into several groups, the difficult terrain and isolated location, chronic lack of infrastructure, and the threat still posed by the rebels, including on major roads.

At yesterday's ceremony, authorities of the DRC armed forces (FARDC) asked MONUC to continue its support in further efforts to clear out the pockets of LRA that remained.

"The Governments of the DRC and Uganda have very generously recognized the support of MONUC to the FARDC during this first phase," Mr. Doss responded.

"Now, it's necessary to turn toward the future and the next operations," he said.
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UN TRYING TO SECURE RELEASE OF STAFF ABDUCTED IN SOMALIA

UN TRYING TO SECURE RELEASE OF STAFF ABDUCTED IN SOMALIA
New York, Mar 16 2009 9:00AM

The United Nations is working to secure the unconditional release of four staff members who were abducted this morning by unknown armed men in south central Somalia, the world body said.

The four were on their way to the airport when their convoy was stopped by gunmen, according to a statement issued in Nairobi by the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

No violence or shooting was reported to have occurred during the incident, which took place in Waajid in south central Somalia.

"While the general location of the four staff members is known, no contact with the abductors has been established so far," the statement noted.

"The United Nations and the local authorities in Waajid are doing everything to secure the unconditional release of the staff," it added.

Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government since 1991, has been plagued by fighting and humanitarian suffering for decades. Continuing instability, coupled with drought, high food prices and the collapse of the local currency have only worsened the dire humanitarian situation in recent months.

The UN estimates that some 3.2 million people, or 40 per cent of the population, are in need of assistance.

At the same time, there have been several encouraging developments in recent weeks for the country, including the election of a new President and the creation of an enlarged Parliament.
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BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Mar 15 2009 1:00PM

United Nations peacekeepers in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) today took over the military and security responsibilities of European forces in the two strife-torn nations.

Today's transfer, which took place at midnight local time, was marked by a ceremony, attended by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, held in the Chadian city of Abéché, where MINURCAT's headquarters are located.

In January, the Security Council approved the deployment of over 5,500 blue helmets, 300 police officers, 25 military liaison officers and 5,200 military personnel with the UN mission (MINURCAT) to replace the European troops (EUFOR), which has been in place since March 2008.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended EUFOR for the key role it has played in bolstering security for internally displaced pe
rsons (IDPs), refugees and other vulnerable groups in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR.

"As MINURCAT assumes its new responsibilities, the Secretary-General is confident that the force will build upon and strengthen EUFOR's military achievements while continuing to execute the full range of its mandated tasks, including to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law and to support the development of the Chadian community police (Détachement Intégré de Sécurité) deployed in eastern Chad," the statement added.

Eastern Chad faces an acute humanitarian challenge with over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the Darfur war, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care. Northern CAR has also been affected by a spill-over from the Darfur conflict as well as by other armed groups.

In its January resolution, the Security Council stressed that the multidimensional pres
ence in Chad and military presence in the CAR is intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons, by boosting security protection, facilitating the provision of humanitarian aid, and promoting reconstruction and economic and social development.

The resolution empowers MINURCAT to "take all necessary measures, within its capabilities" to contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and IDPs, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel, and protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment.

Mr. Ban also said today that he is "grateful" for several EUFOR contributors' and new troop contributing countries' commitments to the UN force, and encouraged Member States to continue filling remaining gaps to ensure that MINURCAT is equipped to execute its mandate.

Currently, the Mission is composed of some 300 uniformed pers
onnel, mostly police, plus some 325 international civilians.

"In order to succeed, MINURCAT will need the active support of the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic," the Secretary-General said, adding that he is grateful to both Governments for "their cooperation during the transition period and looks forward to working with them in the implementation of MINURCAT's mandate."

In September 2007, the Council approved the establishment in Chad and CAR, in concert with the European Union (EU), of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union (EU) military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

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SUDAN: UN WELCOMES RELEASE OF ABDUCTED RELIEF WORKERS IN DARFUR

SUDAN: UN WELCOMES RELEASE OF ABDUCTED RELIEF WORKERS IN DARFUR
New York, Mar 15 2009 1:00PM

The joint United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission to Darfur (UNAMID) has welcomed the safe release of four aid workers who had been abducted at gunpoint three days ago.

The staff members -- three international and one Sudanese national -- of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Médecins Sans Frontières-Belgium arrived last night by Government helicopter at El Fasher Aiport. They appeared to be in good condition and the three international aid workers have since departed for the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

They had been taken at gunpoint from their office in the town of Saraf Omra on 11 March. One other Sudanese staff member abducted at the same time had been freed earlier.

One of those released yesterday, Mauro d'Ascanio, an Italian doctor, said he was fine and that he looks forward to speaking with his family.

The other staff have been identified as Laura Archer, a
Canadian nurse Raphaël Meunier, a French coordinator and Sharif Mohamadin, a Sudanese watchman.

"We are very happy. This is a very good thing -- we were really concerned about this," said AU-UN Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada.

Mohammed Osman Kibir, the Wali, or governor, of North Darfur state, said he personally intervened by negotiating with the abductors over the telephone four times. He flew with a Government team to pick up the four aid workers.

While the identities of the abductors have not been made clear, they did inform the Wali that their actions were in response to the decision earlier this month by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir last week for alleged crimes committed in the region.

Mr. Kibir said he was able to convince the gunmen that the abduction of the relief workers reflected badly on their country and that it was in Sudan's best interest to release them, with no ransom being paid either by the Government or by the NGO.

He added that authorities would be boosting security measures to ensure the safety of aid workers and other international staff operating in the war-torn Darfur region.

Immediately after the ICC announced the indictment of Mr. Al-Bashir, the Government ordered the expulsion of 13 aid groups which assist nearly 5 million people in Darfur, and the UN has continued to press authorities to reverse the expulsions.

An estimated 300,000 people have died, either through direct combat or because of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, over the past five years in the region, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.

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