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Occupied Arab Territories in Political Turmoil;
 Haiti says the resumption of official international aid cannot be considered a long-term strategy for the country; Jamaica warns of the critical situation in Haiti because of instability, and lack of sustained assistance; The Bahamas calls for a lasting peaceful settlement to the conflict in the Middle East; The president of the general Assembly appeals to States to observe the Olympic Truce during the Athens Games; Jamaica welcomes progress in reducing the digital divide
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No progress towards resuming Mid-East peace process: UN official
"For the sake of the parties, Israelis and Palestinians alike, all of us must uphold the vision of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, based on resolutions of this council, which would bring an end to occupation and bring about two States - Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders. While the daily toll of violence, injustice and the dignities of occupation may make this vision appear hopelessly utopian, it would in fact only become truly unattainable if we were to lose our commitment to its attainment." Over the last month, 54 Palestinians were killed and 40 Palestinians and 23 Israelis were injured.
Youth unemployment at an all time high : ILO The number of jobless young people worldwide has reached an all time high of 88 million. And according to a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO) young people aged 15 to 24 now represent nearly half the world's jobless. The report says there are 130 million young people who work but are unable to lift themselves and their families above the poverty line. Director of the ILO's Programme on Skills and Employment Jane Stewart says young people are facing more than economic challenges. "There are clearly economic reasons for us to rise to the youth employment challenge. But for any of you who have been unemployed or know someone who as been unemployed - adult or youth - there's more than just the economic challenge that's associated with unemployment and under employment. There are real social costs as well. Discouragement, disillusionment the response to these realities when one is excluded from the world of work are real and telling." Ms. Stewart says
recognizing those joint issues is a priority for the ILO.
"Pronk said he welcomed the meeting and the participation of the traditional leaders to discuss necessary reforms to be undertaken in Darfur in order to restore peace and stability in that region. He added that the meeting is a positive step towards the implementation of the government's commitments laid out in the Darfur Plan of Action." The event has
brought together tribal and community- led leaders from West, north
and south Darfur, as well as Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir, members
of his government and the diplomatic corps.
UNFPA calls for immediate action to avert hepatitis epidemic in Darfur
Malnutrition on the rise in Kenya: UN The United Nations
warns that malnutrition in Kenya is reaching alarming levels endangering
the physical and intellectual development of children. UN officials
in Nairobi say one in every three people in drought-stricken areas
now suffers from acute malnutrition, and worsening food shortages
threaten millions. The deputy country director of the UN food agency
Timo Pakkala says "the lives and livelihoods" of more than
two million Kenyans "are at risk." He says the "education
of thousands of children in the marginal areas of Kenya is in jeopardy
as children are dropping out of schools to help secure food for their
families."
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There
has been no tangible progress towards resuming the Middle East peace
process and violence continues to claim lives. That assessment comes
from the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast.
In a report to the Security Council Wednesday, Prendergast says neither
Israel nor the Palestinian Authority has taken adequate steps to protect
civilians. But he says while both sides are in breach of their international
obligations, the international community also has obligations.
Recent
agreements between the United Nations and Sudan are the focus of discussions
at a two-day conference organized by the Sudanese government. Participants
are reviewing a draft law on the native administration of the three
Darfur States based on earlier consultations with local leaders and
taking into account recent agreements with the United Nations. Other
draft laws to be discussed are on the role of the traditional administration
in the disarmament process; and on social reconciliation in Darfur.
United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard says the session was attended
by UN special envoy Jan Pronk.
There's
been a call for immediate action to avert an outbreak of hepatitis
E among displaced people in the Darfur region. The call comes from
the UN Population Fund which warns that pregnant women are especially
vulnerable to such an outbreak. UNFPA's call comes a day after an
outbreak of the disease was confirmed in camps for internally displaced
persons in three of Darfur's states.