Tuesday, 13 January 2004
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Security Council Considers New Measures to Close Loopholes in Al-Qaida Sanctions

The president of the Security Council says nearly 100 countries have failed to enforce UN sanctions against Al-Qaida and Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, who is also chairman of the committee overseeing sanctions, blamed lack of resources and technical ability as possible reasons for the countries' failure to comply. He however warned that the council is considering new measures to close the loopholes and strengthen the sanctions.

"It is my belief that we should name those countries that haven't complied with the UN Security Council resolutions and thus they have not sent their reports requested on the applications of the sanctions."

Sanctions include an arms embargo, freezing of assets and a travel ban on those linked to the two groups. Ambassador Munoz said it's not a matter of "naming and shaming" those nations that have not given the council the required paperwork.

UNHCR Readies Camps for Thousands of Sudanese Refugees

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has begun pre-registering the first of tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad who have fled fighting in the Darfur region of Sudan. UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski says the camp would be ready for about 2,000 people by the weekend and will eventually be expanded for up to 9,000 refugees.

"They are being registered; they are being given tents; they go through a medical screening which is being done by a team from MSF Holland - that includes of course vaccinations; they also receive a food package from the World Food Programme for 15 days.

Janowski says UNHCR is giving the refugees blankets, mattresses and various other supplies. The agency estimates that more than 90,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad since last March.

China Contributes a Lot to Palestinian Refugees: UN official

A senior UN official is touring East Asia to appeal for humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. Peter Hansen, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, says unless the international community provides more support soon, food aid would have to be reduced drastically. From Beijing, Hak Fan Lau sends this report.

"At the end of his 2-day visit, Peter Hansen says he has been encouraged by the positive tone of his Chinese hosts. He has presented a number of proposals which the two sides would discuss further. Mr. Hansen describes the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories as catastrophic. Sixty per cent of the population lives below the absolute poverty line and 1,000 homes have been destroyed over the past two years. He says China can contribute in kind like the school it has built for Palestinian children. This is Mr. Hansen's first visit to China as the UN's top official for the Palestinian refugees. His next stops are Japan and South Korea. From Beijing, this is Hak Fan Lau for UN Radio."

Kosovo is at a Crossroads: UN Special Envoy

Kosovo is at a crossroads and must choose whether to take the high road taken by the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe. That, according to the special envoy for Kosovo Harri Holkeri. UN Spokesman Fred Eckhard says Mr. Holkeri told an orthodox New Year reception in the capital Pristina that the aim of the UN mission is to help Kosovo resolve its future status and then leave.

"To get there, efforts must be made across a range of areas, he said. These include that minority communities must feel safe and secure and returnees must not feel threatened."

Earthquake has Seriously Hit Farmers in Bam Region: FAO

The recent earthquake in the city of Bam in Iran has seriously affected the agricultural sector in the region. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says plantation owners, mostly small-scale farmers, are among the worst hit. FAO also says families dependent on livestock production are badly affected. The agency has launched an appeal for $2.5 million to assist farming families affected by the earthquake. It points out that repairing irrigation systems to restore water supply for most affected plantations, providing agricultural inputs and support for livestock farmers would be the main focus of its emergency assistance.