News by region: Asia Pacific

UN calls on Maldives to respect Supreme Court decision, says 'ready' to help ease political impasse

3 February – Following the Maldives' Supreme Court decision ordering the release of convicted opposition leaders and the reinstatement of 12 parliamentarians, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed the world body's continued readiness to facilitate all-party talks in finding a solution to the Indian Ocean nation's political stalemate.

Ahead of monsoon season, UN supports Bangladesh’s efforts to protect Rohingya camps from flooding

2 February – The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are ramping up to assist Bangladesh’s efforts to mitigate some expected impacts of the upcoming monsoon season in the country, during which, according to an initial risk analysis, at least 100,000 Rohingya refugees could be in grave danger from landslides and floods.

Security operations by Myanmar show ‘established pattern’ of domination over ethnic groups – UN expert

1 February – What Myanmar’s Government has claimed are military and security operations are “actually an established pattern” of domination and aggression against ethnic groups, the United Nations independent expert on the rights situation there said on Thursday, reporting on her visit to nearby countries, including Bangladesh, which is hosting nearly 900,000 Rohingya refugees.

South-East Asia region aims to close immunity gap, wipe out measles by 2020 – UN health agency

31 January – The so-called ‘big six’ countries in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia region are meeting today in New Delhi on an accelerated strategy to wipe out measles and rubella in the next three years by targeting as many as 500 million children with vaccines.

UN condemns massive vehicle bomb attack in Kabul that leaves scores dead and wounded

27 January – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the Security Council and the UN in Afghanistan have strongly condemned Saturday's massive vehicle bomb attack on a street near Government buildings in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which reportedly left 95 people dead and scores wounded.

Ahead of Pyeongchang Games, UN Assembly President appeals for nations to honour ‘Olympic Truce’

26 January – Ahead of next month’s Olympics and Paralympics in the Republic of Korea (ROK), United Nations General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak on Friday appealed to all UN Member States to observe the historic 'Olympic Truce' during the Games.

Safety of Rohingya children must be guaranteed, before return to Myanmar - UNICEF

25 January – Improved security and unimpeded humanitarian access in Myanmar are essential before Rohingya children can be returned from Bangladesh, a senior official of the United Nations children's agency has said.

Conditions in Myanmar not yet suitable for Rohingya refugees to return safely – UN agency

23 January – The necessary safeguards for Rohingyas to return to Myanmar are absent, and there are ongoing restrictions on access for aid agencies, the media and other independent observers, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, two months after Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed on a plan for the refugees’ voluntary return to their homes.

Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns terrorist attack on Kabul hotel

21 January – Senior United Nations officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres as well as the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have strongly condemned a terrorist attack on a hotel in the country's capital, Kabul.

UN chief spotlights potential offered by cooperation among countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan

19 January – The threats of violent extremism and transnational organized crime in Afghanistan reverberate across Central Asia and the world and countering them cannot be the responsibility of one country alone, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday, urging regional and multilateral cooperation, based firmly on human rights.