Juba – Voters in Southern Sudan flooded polling stations this week to decide whether the south of the country becomes independent from the north. The referendum is part of a peace deal signed in 2005 which ended 20 years of civil war.
Lebanon
After the July 2006 war severely damaged Lebanon’s socio-economic and infrastructure, the establishment of income-generating projects in highly war-affected areas, especially projects targeting women was crucial to support the infrastructural and agricultural services and cooperatives.
Somalia
UNDP initiated a three-month project to construct two flood control dykes on the Buray stream near Khadijo Haji Village. The construction of the two dykes have effectively controlled flooding and thereby contributed to increased food production for the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the hinterland of the Gedo Region.
Lebanon
The devastating July 2006 war affected the lives and livelihoods of the local community in Beirut southern suburbs, particularly the fishermen at the Ouzai port, where an entire fleet of 300 fishing boats - the source of a living for many - were destroyed.
Sudan
Juba (Sudan) – Today at the Juba airport, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) delivered ballots for more than 4 million voters to the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau. The ballots will be used in the referendum on 9 January 2011, in which Southern citizens will choose whether to remain united with the North or to secede and form their own independent country.
Regional Bureau of Arab States
The Arab region has achieved progress in many MDGs, including significant strides in health and education, says a recently launched UN Report. However, there have been setbacks and constraints attributable to several factors.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is taking a more active role to enact local policies towards a lower-carbon economy. There is a growing push within the Kingdom to develop and apply clean energy technologies and reduce dependence of the domestic economy on oil consumption. This helps conserve critical oil reserves for future export revenues, while also reducing Saudi Arabia carbon footprint, currently one of the world’s highest. This holds the prospect for the Kingdom to shift in the future from the world’s oil capital, to a global leader and pioneer in clean energy technologies.
Syria
In the North East of Syria, the country’s poorest region, water shortages have been exacerbated by a three-year drought which has been particularly painful for the country’s rural poor, and has prompted substantial internal population displacement. This environmental pressure has dire consequences not only for the economic well-being of poor households, but also for the preservation of traditional ways of life.
UNDP/HARPAS
In the Arab Region, where HIV/AIDS is a growing crisis that has major spiritual, social and political dimensions, UNDP has been mobilizing religious leaders in the HIV response through the support of its Regional HIV/AIDS in the Arab States (HARPAS) to address stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV in the Arab Region
Iraq
Every year hundreds of Iraqis are killed or maimed by cluster munitions and landmines, due to Iraq’s contamination of millions of explosive remnants of war (ERW).
occupied Palestinian territory
Celebrating the UN Day more than 100 UN staff members from eleven UN sister organizations joined the Palestinian farmers harvest their olive trees in Turmusaya village
Iraq
Films that represent a few of the voices coming out of Iraq, of normal people living normal lives—in Baghdad—in a highly insecure environment.
Sudan
Southern Sudan legislative assembly delegation concludes study tour to Egypt
Djibouti
Popular Fund for Savings and Credits extends services to the neighborhood level
Syria
Confident Steps on the Path of Change
Sudan
Community organizing and better boats transform lives in a fishing community
Sudan
Women framers make the best use improved irrigation
Lebanon
Project helps in enhancing cure rates for patients with cancer
Syria
Minimising damages to the environment that olive mill waste water can cause
Sudan
Code of conduct for prisons staff approved