News

Farmers to receive compensation for damaged property in Gaza

Jerusalem – The United Nations Development Programme and the Palestinian Authority signed an agreement today allocating US$270 million for the restoration of the agricultural sector in Gaza.  The agreement consists of a compensation package to Palestinian farmers for property damaged durin more

Big turnout for Iraqi provincial elections

A voter casts his ballot in Fallujah. (Photo:ASWAT AL-IRAQ.)Baghdad – The vote for the provincial elections taking place in Iraq over the weekend saw a healthy turnout, due in large part to the successful media and voter outreach strategies of the Iraqi election authorities. “An impo more

UN assists flood victims in Ouagadougou

The local authorities are still busy trying to count the number of people affected by the flood.  Zouarata Ouedraogo lost her house and belongings and came for the registration where she reports the status of her family (Photo: Kerstin Gosse/UNDP)“Early in the morning, water began to pour into more

Providing identification papers in Sri Lanka

On 18 May 2009 the Sri Lankan Government formally announced its military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and its regaining of complete territorial control over Sri Lanka. The final weeks of the conflict resulted in an estimated 200,000 people fleeing the fighting. more

UNDP human development initiatives in the Arab World

Photo: Dominique MarrStudents at Damascus University UNDP directed US$579 million in human development aid to the Arab region in 2008, an increase of 21 percent from the year before in a region that is experiencing a number of conflict and post-conflict recovery situations. Indeed, the bulk of th more

Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar: One year on

VideoCyclone Nargis: One Year Anniversary | watch larger versionPhotos: After Cyclone NargisIt was a year ago today when Cyclone Nargis struck the coast of Myanmar, leaving a trail of unprecedented destruction: 140,000 lives were lost and the livelihoods of 2.4 million people were shattered.One ye more

Namibia: Recovering from the worst floods in 46 years

UN agencies participated in the preparation of a Flash Appeal for US$ 2.7 million to support the Namibian Government’s response (Photo: UNDP)Since early 2009, torrential rains and severe flooding in the north-central and north-eastern regions of Namibia have killed almost 100 people.Out of o more

UN brings together opposing Sudanese tribes in historic peace talks

Amidst the cheering, drumming and dancing of women from  Sudan’s Missiriya tribe in Um Khaer village in the Sudanese county of Abyei, a group of Missiriya representatives from this traditionally nomadic tribe gathered on December 14, 2009  for a historic meeting with representatives from the more

In Peru, restoring houses prevents disasters and preserves landmarks

An antique villa courtyard in Rimac converted into poor urban settlement for the poor. (Photo: Lorry Salcedo) In Peru about half a million people dwell in slums enclosed within historical architectural gems. In downtown Lima, UNESCO heritage site and once S more

UNDP helps drought-stricken Iraq combat effects of climate change

Global Warming is manifested in Iraq through: • More frequent and more severe droughts, 2008/09 was the second such prolonged drought period in ten years. • Declining rainfall over the past four years, with annual precipitation reaching only 25-65 percent of normal levels. more