OVERVIEW

This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2011 Programme outcome

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific zone office continues to support its regional and country offices as well as the 37 national societies in the zone in building stronger and more resilient communities, improving and assisting in preparedness, knowledge-sharing and response to disasters as well as health and care challenges.

Food prices climb for the first time since July

A sixth-month downward slide in food prices came to an end in January as the FAO Food Price Index rose for the first time since July 2011. FAO analysts cited poor weather as the possible main factor. The Index stood at 214, a 4 point or 2 percent increase over December. Nonetheless, food prices were still 7 percent below the levels recorded in January 2011. The increase was propelled by rising prices in every commodities group measured by FAO, with oils and fats recording the largest increases.

The Asia-Pacific region contains a diverse array of cultures, environments, and societies. One of the fastest growing economic regions in the world, it is also the most disaster-prone. While natural disasters affect the region frequently, as this region continues along its path of development, regional partnerships will be essential in developing the capacities of countries to reduce risk and vulnerability, and to respond to disasters.

This report covers the period 01/01/2010 to 30/06/2010.

In brief

This programme update focuses on the work of the Asia Pacific zone office in the first six months of 2010 to provide leadership and guidance to the International Federation efforts to increase the impact of Asia Pacific national societies' humanitarian activities. Many societies across the zone have maintained a high level of programming in several new disaster response operations and continued comprehensive post-disaster recovery activities, while others have started

by Marlowe Hood

PARIS, Sept 2, 2009 (AFP) - Africa and much of south Asia face extreme risk from climate change but top carbon polluters will be relatively shielded from its ravages, according a ranking of 166 nations obtained by AFP Wednesday.

Somalia, Haiti and Afghanistan top the Climate Change Vulnerability Index, calculated from dozens of variables measuring the capacity of a country to cope with the consequences of global warming.

"We wanted to look at what is going to impact human populations," explained Fiona Place, senior environmental