Christopher Mikulaschek and Paul Romita, rapporteurs

Ten years ago the UN Secretary-General pledged to intensify efforts to move from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention. In 2005, heads of state and government at the UN World Summit solemnly renewed their commitment “to promote a culture of prevention of armed conflict.”

Overview

Natural hazards such as droughts, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires affect a range of countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA). In addition, rapid urban growth and environmental degradation in some countries have led to overcrowding and settlement in hazard-prone areas. Moreover, protracted conflict and limited governmental disaster management capacity in many EMCA countries compound the risks associated with natural disasters.

Executive Summary

484 crisis-affected families in southern Kyrgyzstan to get new houses.

After building transitional shelters for families whose houses were burnt during the June 2010 crisis in southern Kyrgyzstan, ACTED is continuing its shelter project by constructing permanent homes for 484 affected families. The project is soon to end, and some families are getting ready to move in to their new homes where they can rebuild their lives.

Save the Children is urging New Zealanders to invest in a fund that can help the organisation be more prepared and better able to help save children’s lives.
Every year, around 60 million children are affected by emergencies and every time disaster strikes, Save the Children must race against time to save lives.

CEO of Save the Children New Zealand Liz Gibbs said children are always the most in need during and after a disaster.

SC/10495

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the briefing by Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, on the work of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia over the past six months.

Special Report by Richard Gowan

Summary

More than six thousand personnel are deployed in political missions worldwide. The United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe oversee the majority of these missions. Although many political missions deal with active conflicts or postconflict situations, some have contributed to conflict prevention in countries ranging from Estonia to Guinea.

BISHKEK (13 December 2011) – At the conclusion of his visit to the Kyrgyz Republic undertaken at invitation of the Government from 5 to 13 December 2011, Juan E. Méndez, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment, delivered the following statement:

Regional organizations are often better placed to detect potential crises early and to mobilize a coordinated international response, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, noting that the United Nations has strengthened or established conflict prevention and mediation partnerships with such blocs over the past five years.