by Ron Corben

BANGKOK — Doctors across Southeast Asia are on alert for outbreaks of a strain of the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, responsible for killing scores of children across Asia in recent months. Medical authorities say the peak of the outbreak still has not been reached.

Reports of outbreaks of the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) have cropped up in countries across Asia in recent months, mainly affecting young children.

The hardest hit has been China with more than 1.2 million cases and over 350 deaths.

We, the undersigned international human rights organizations, are concerned that the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has yet to take the necessary steps to ensure that the process of drafting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) is transparent and fully consultative with civil society organizations in the ASEAN region.

In a joint statement released on April 8th (full text below), over 130 local, national and regional civil society organizations across the ASEAN region called on AICHR to implement the following steps:

SINGAPORE, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Singapore will spend about S$750 million ($598 million) over the next five years to boost flood defences, following an increase in the number of flash floods that have hit key areas including the main Orchard Road shopping belt.

The projects include widening and deepening existing canals such that they can hold up to 45 percent more water in times of heavy rain, national water agency PUB said in a statement on Monday.

Singapore, 3 November 2011 – Donors can now give to the “South East Asia Floods Appeal” at more than 2,700 locations, thanks to the partnership of NTUC Fairprice, AXS, DBS/POSB, OCBC and UOB Singapore, with the Singapore Red Cross.

Donors can donate cash in Red Cross tins at NTUC Fairprice outlets and UOB Singapore branches; electronically at AXS stations, DBS/POSB and OCBC ATMs islandwide; or online via DBS, OCBC and UOB internet banking.

The Singapore Government will contribute US$100,000 as seed money to kickstart the Singapore Red Cross appeal for donations for Thailand, Cambodia and other countries in the region affected by recent floods.

• Part of proceeds has been disbursed as emergency relief for basic necessities while remaining will be spent to aid early recovery

Singapore, 13 May 2011 – The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has received more than S$30 million in response to its public appeal which ended on 30 April 2011, to assist survivors of the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region on 11 March 2011.

People living with HIV/AIDS are one of several categories of people at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. In the Western Pacific Region this risk is heightened.

New Zealand Health Minister, Tony Ryall, said the visits to health clinics would put more pressure on the health system as flu season peaked. "The public can expect to see full intensive care units and some surgery being cancelled at various public hospitals around the country over the next few weeks," Mr Ryall said.

Singapore's decision comes as some countries in the Western Pacific Region refocus their response efforts to provide better medical care to patients with severe illness rather than try to keep track of individual cases. Ongoing surveillance of suspected and confirmed