News

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

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