NATURAL DISASTERS IN 2012

After an intense year of natural disasters in 2011, countries in the Asia-Pacific region welcomed a reduction in the number of events in 2012. OCHA and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters recorded 93 natural disaster events in 2012, in which over 3,200 people were killed and more than 75 million people were affected. China and the Philippines experienced the most disasters in 2012.

Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict

1. At its 33rd meeting, on 31 May 2012, the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict examined the fourth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Sri Lanka (S/2011/793), covering the period from 1 February 2009 to 30 June 2011, which was introduced by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. A representative of the Government of Sri Lanka to the United Nations also addressed the Working Group.

The government has taken immediate measures to repair the roads and tanks damaged by the landslides and floods brought on by the adverse weather the country experienced during the last two weeks while the relief measures continued for the people affected by the floods.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the government continues to grant relief measure to all people displaced by the extreme weather despite the opposition's accusation that the government is not providing sufficient aid to the affected by the floods and landslides.

Geneva (31 December 2012) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, expressed today serious concern about the impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the recent attacks against lawyers who have been fighting for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka.

According to information received by the independent expert, attacks and threats against members of the judiciary and lawyers, as well as interference in their work, have dramatically increased over the past few months.

Extreme weather events forced Sri Lankans to come face to face with the disastrous impact of changing climate patterns.

Floods in the past two months following a long drought have left Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces reeling

Despite legislative improvements in the protection of children in India, young refugees continue to be particularly vulnerable to neglect and abuse.