The Caritas Annual Report shows our work in 2012 through five strategic priorities identified during the year: addressing poverty at home and abroad, responding to emergencies, upholding the dignity and rights of indigenous peoples, promoting environmental justice, and connecting effectively with our Catholic community.

Public donations topped $3 million last year, including a record Lent total of more than $900,000. We are grateful for the government’s New Zealand Aid Programme which contributed almost $1 million towards Caritas development and relief programmes.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr today announced a further $7 million to repair or rebuild 18 schools and nine health clinics damaged by Cyclone Evan in December 2012.

Senator Carr visited villages devastated by the cyclone during a two-day trip to Samoa.

"Rebuilding these facilities will enable more than 5,300 students to continue their studies and more than 25,000 people to access health care in the coming months," Senator Carr said.

"It will also support the Australia Pacific Technical College to provide training courses for those most affected by the disaster.

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.

People in Fiji's informal settlements have extensive needs for both housing assistance and other non-food items.

Highlights

• 281 people remain in 13 Evacuation Centers in Fiji, down from 1,202 on 28 December

• 810 people are in Evacuation Centres in Samoa, down from 4,500 on 28 December.

Situation Overview

Samoa

Restoration of electricity, water supply, and addressing sanitation issues in the temporary shelters remain priorities for response. A detailed analysis of the initial damage assessment on the wellbeing of the community is still ongoing.

Highlights

• 2,714 people remain in 59 Evacuation Centers in Fiji, down from 11,676 on 20 December.

• 1 man is missing at sea in Fiji.

• Typhoid outbreak of 18 cases in Ba district, Fiji.

• 5,500 people remain in 40 Evacuation Centres in Samoa

Highlights

• Extensive damage is feared after Tropical Cyclone Evan passed right over the western coastline of Fiji, one of the most populated areas.

• There is no detailed information available as yet as communication systems are affected in addition to power and water supply.

• Evacuation Centers in Fiji are currently hosting 8,416 people.

• The Fijian Government has requested international assistance.

• Government of Samoa has declared a State of Emergency for the next 30 days.

ENV/DEV/1310

Plenary
5th & 6th Meetings (AM & PM)

Outcome Document Affirms Poverty Eradication
As Greatest Challenge, Recommends Strengthening of Institutional Framework

RIO DE JANEIRO, 22 June — High-level officials of nearly every Member State meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, renewed their commitments to ensuring an “economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations”, as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development — Rio+20 — closed this afternoon.

Asia-Pacific actions to address climate change will have global impact

Jakarta -- Countries in Asia and the Pacific are at a crossroads and must now strike a balance between rising prosperity and rising emissions. Their success or failure will have repercussions worldwide, predicts a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme.