News

UNDP helps mine victims in Iraqi Kurdistan become independent

Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan – Every year an unknown number of Iraqis gets killed or maimed due to landmines and unexploded remnants of war, as their country is among the most contaminated with unexploded ordnance. One of the victims is Yahya Muhammed Taha, who stepped on a landmine and lost hi more

Behind the scenes: UNDP & the Discovery Channel's documentary

These calm waters and peaceful tourist attractions in Phuket, Thailand, belie the devastation that took place here on December 26, 2004, when an Indian Ocean tsunami swept one-fifth of the way around the Earth. It killed more than one-quarter of a million people and affected over 2 more

Five years later, the tsunami-affected teach the world how to build back better

On December 26, 2004, no one was prepared for the gigantic seismic sea wave that ravished the coasts of 14 countries in Asia, killing nearly one-quarter of a million people and displacing more than 2 mi more

A summer camp brings together Lebanese and Palestinian youths

A UNDP-supported conflict recovery project in Lebanon , in collaboration with the Government, is breaking down prevailing stereotypes held by Palestinian and Lebanese youth through a very unique program. The summer school brings together 22 Lebanese and Palestinian young people in an isola more

Two years after the 2007 PERU earthquake

Two years ago, on 15 August, the Peruvian province of Ica was devastated by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale.  Almost 600 people died, over 1,000 people were injured and 75,000 families were affected. The region suffered extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, and loc more

Afghan elections hotline rings non-stop

(With information from Tilak Pokharel, UNAMA)Twenty days before the Afghan population turns out to vote at the presidential and provincial council election, a number of people are still calling the country’s election hotline. Each week around 25,000 people call the toll-free number to ask abou more

Building back better in Bangladesh

In 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh, a densely populated developing country that is buffeted by increasingly worse cyclones, floods and monsoons. Sidr brought Bangladesh’s river delta region to its knees, killing 3,363 people and damaging or destroying the homes of 1.5 million families. A j more

A blind community saves the wetlands in Peru

At 28, Joana Manrique now has a lot of vitality and strength.  But this wasn’t always the case.A victim of severe domestic violence, Joana lost her eyesight and was left alone with a small daughter to take care of in San Andrés, located in the Pisco district of Peru.  But the resilient accou more

Boosting voter interest in the Afghanistan elections

Kabul – Increasing voter turnout and ensuring a relative level of security are the main challenges for the upcoming elections scheduled to take place in Afghanistan on August 20.  Margie Cook manages UNDP’s election initiative – Enhancing legal and electoral capacity for tomorrow ( more

Concerns Iraq will not meet mine ban treaty obligations

BAGHDAD – A joint UNICEF-UNDP report, released today with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, raises concerns that Iraq is unable to meet its obligations under the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty. “After decades of war and conflict, Iraq has become one of the world’s most co more