En dépit des rudes défis qui se posent à eux, l’analyse des dernières données disponibles sur ces pays révèle des lueurs d’espoir

WASHINGTON, 1er mai 2013 — En dépit des défis persistants qu’ils connaissent sur le plan politique et économique, 20 pays fragiles ou touchés par un conflit ont dernièrement atteint un ou plusieurs objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement (OMD), et six autres sont en bonne voie d’atteindre certains de ces objectifs avant l’échéance de 2015. Tel est le constat que fait le Groupe de la Banque mondiale dans sa dernière analyse publiée aujourd’hui.

Created to promote relief work in times of peace, the Empress Shôken Fund received many applications this year from Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and is pleased to announce its support for five Red Cross Red Crescent projects around the world which address local vulnerabilities, namely in Belarus, Bolivia, Eritrea, Iran, and Kiribati. The total amount of the grant allocations is 98,779 Swiss Francs.

MANILA, 7 MARCH 2013 - In the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way by an intimate partner. This year, International Women’s Day (8 March) addresses violence against women as a public health threat.

The Security Council should consider climate change as a threat to international peace and security, particularly for such low-lying nations as the Marshall Islands whose “very existence” was at risk, a Government minister from that country said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Many small islands are already suffering from recurrent flooding. More action needs to be taken to increase their capacities to deal with sea level rise.

Australia is assisting Pacific nations better prepare for natural disasters and extreme weather, with a focus on building resilience throughout the region to the impacts of climate change.

Australia’s funding includes:

• $32 million over the next four years to support 14 Pacific countries to use local weather, climate and sea level data to plan for unusual and extreme weather

• $16 million over the next four years to help Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga build their resilience to natural disasters

Description:

The maps opposite show rainfall patterns for Sep-Oct-Nov (southern hemisphere spring) and for Dec-Jan-Feb (southern hemisphere winter) generated from a merged analysis of precipitation from 1979 to 2003.
The top row shows the average daily rainfall that prevails for the given period and ENSO conditions. Darker colors indicate more rain.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Weak El Niño conditions expected to form in the Pacific Island region during the September to November period.

• Dryer conditions expected in Fiji, Samoa and Wallis & Futuna. Above normal rainfall is forecast for the Federated States of Micronesia. Normal rainfall is forecast elsewhere, with no clear guidance given for Niue, the Solomon Islands, the Southern Cook Islands and the Society Islands.