Human Rights Council
Nineteenth session
Agenda items 2 and 3
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development

Summary

Summary: CHF 42,600 was allocated from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 1 July 2011 to support the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) in the conduct of risk communication/disease prevention and vector control activities in 190 island communities in support of the national response to the dengue outbreak.

Monday, December 26, 2011 — Seven years after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, clear signs of recovery and rebuilding abound in south Asia.

Homes, schools, businesses and cultural centers have been rebuilt and communities have become better prepared for future disasters. Survivors in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives and elsewhere have been able to rebuild their lives after receiving shelter, clean water, vaccinations and psychosocial support from the American Red Cross and its partners.

1. Who are we?

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Maldives has a small country office (head of country office and three support staff) supporting the development of the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC).

2. What is our mission?

The mission of MRC, as set out in the Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015, is to volunteer, participate and partner in delivering humanitarian service to the most vulnerable.

PRESS RELEASE

06DECEMBER 2011 15:00 GMT+2

• Ministers and representatives of countries highly vulnerable to climate change met in Durban at COP17 amid a lack of concrete outcomes in international climate talks

DHAKA — Some of the countries most affected by climate change should be an "inspiration" to rich nations on how to reduce their emissions, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday.

Speaking at the Climate Vulnerable forum -- which brings together countries most affected by climate change -- Ban praised low-lying nations such as the Maldives, Costa Rica and Samoa for committing to be carbon neutral.

11 Nov 2011 16:56 Source: Alertnet // Krittivas Mukherjee

By Krittivas Mukherjee

ADDU CITY, Maldives, Nov 11 (AlertNet) - Eight South Asian countries agreed a pact on Friday to provide one another with quick assistance during natural disasters aimed at boosting response in a region that is among the world’s most disaster prone.

The Maldives holds South-East Asia’s record for being malaria-free. Meanwhile, the region is falling behind as one-third of affected countries show signs of eliminating the vector-borne disease over the next ten years.

Dr Robert Newman, director of the Global Malaria Program of World Health Organisation (WHO) said malaria control has improved significantly. “The world has made remarkable progress with malaria control. Better diagnostic testing and surveillance has shown that there are countries eliminating malaria in all endemic regions of the world.”

Almost seven years after the devastating tsunami of 2004, more than 20 nations* will participate on 12 October in a full-scale exercise to test the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System. This exercise, organized under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, will also see responsibility for the issue of advisories handed over to the countries of the region through a new regional tsunami advisory service.