Goodwill ambassador visited refugees, urges international aid
UNHCR Oct 24, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Angelina Jolie made a trip to Afghanistan last week in her role as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, spending two days among the country's returning refugees. The actress visited sites where thousands of Afghans live in makeshift housing and struggle to find work, problems that typify the stress the massive repatriation has had on the region, reports the UNHCR.
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Navy set to deliver more supplies; VP touts 'deep and abiding interest' in region
Associated Press Sep 3, 08 2:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush wants another $1 billion in economic aid for Georgia, the AP reports. An announcement is scheduled for later today, even as Vice President Dick Cheney is continuing a tour of former Soviet states that will take him to Georgia tomorrow. Meanwhile, a third US Navy ship entered the Black Sea today, with aid cargo destined for the region disrupted by recent fighting.
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Villagers turning desperate, living on uncooked rice and polluted water
Daily Telegraph (UK) Aug 30, 08 5:58 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Rescue helicopters are trying to save villagers in India after a dam flooded thousands of towns this month, killing 85, displacing 2 million, and wrecking a quarter-million acres of farmland, the Daily Telegraph reports. Torrential rain kept helicopters grounded for most of yesterday as one boat capsized, killing 20. “These are some of the worst floods in generations,” a UNICEF director said.
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Russians say move is 'devilish'
Associated Press Aug 27, 08 7:42 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A US military ship docked at the Georgian port of Batumi today on a humanitarian aid mission, the AP reports. Early reports had the ship headed to Poti, which was heavily damaged and is still occupied by Russian troops, but Batumi is well south of the combat zone. One top Russian general called the US use of a military vessel for humanitarian work “devilish.”
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Associated Press Aug 24, 08 12:57 PM CDT
(AP)
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A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi today, sending a strong signal of support to an embattled ally as Russian forces built up around two separatist regions. But a top Russian general suggested that the presence of US and other NATO ships in the Black Sea would worsen tensions already at a post-Cold War low.
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ANALYSIS
Greater emphasis on humanitarian operations seen by some as 'out of whack'
Boston Globe Jul 28, 08 2:08 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Despite recent focus on shooting wars, the Defense Department has tweaked the core mission of US armed forces to promote “soft power,” such as humanitarian aid, the Boston Globe reports. Some civilian onlookers say the foreign policy is “out of whack,” and “too dominated by the military.” One Pacific commander says his job, “more often than not,” is to provide aid.
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Aid group helps heal the wounds of war in Europe's fledgling country
Radio Free Netherlands Jul 12, 08 8:28 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A Dutch organization is helping steer Kosovo's war widows toward a brighter future, Radio Free Netherlands reports. Many were left to fend for themselves after losing loved ones in the war against Serbia; now the Dutch group The Bridge is giving them cows to put food on the table and earn money by selling milk. Each is obliged to give their cow's first-born calf to another woman.
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General meets survivors for first time since cyclone hit
CNN May 18, 08 2:48 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary began a three-day tour meant to pressure Burma to accept more foreign aid, the AP reports.
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Others advise against forcing aid on devastated country
Time May 10, 08 4:49 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Analysts and aid workers appalled by Burma’s attitude to foreign aid are urging Washington to invade, Time reports. One observer has called for the US to airlift food regardless of the junta’s restrictions; a retired general wants China to pacify Burma about US aid, or Thailand to paint their colors on US aircraft to help aid get through.
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No reason given after goods confiscated
CNN May 9, 08 8:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
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An enraged UN has shut off all further cyclone aid to Burma after its military junta seized two planes carrying a massive food shipment, CNN reports. “This is another example of them actively getting in the way of relief getting to the victims,” said the UN's Asia World Food Program director. The junta has also frustrated the UN by refusing to let aid workers enter the country.
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Insular state disappoints would-be donors; 1.5M could be affected
Reuters May 8, 08 4:02 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Officials the world over are expressing dismay at Burma's apparent disinterest in swift international aid to victims of the devastating cyclone that has 1 million homeless and perhaps more than 100,000 dead, Reuters reports. The US ambassador to the UN said today he was “outraged by the slowness of the response of the government of Burma to welcome and accept assistance.”
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But some planes grounded as officials dicker with junta to get help to villagers
Associated Press May 8, 08 5:33 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A single United Nations plane laden with relief supplies has finally landed in Burma's Irrawaddy Delta region—six days after a pulverizing cyclone killed an estimated 100,000 people, AP is reporting. Three other UN planes are expected to land later today, but flights operated jointly by the US and Thailand remain grounded as officials continue to negotiate with Burma's reluctant military leaders to allow foreign aid into the stricken region, Reuters reports.
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UN info on displaced peoples now available through Earth mapping feature
Associated Press Apr 8, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A new feature allows Google Earth users to take a tour of the world’s refugee hotspots, with images of camps supplemented by information from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the AP reports. The search titan has greatly improved the available resolution in its satellite photos of refugee areas—for example, individual tents are visible in a Chadian camp for Darfur’s displaced.
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N. Korean capital masked poverty for
NY Philharmonic's visit
Los Angeles Times Mar 10, 08 3:05 PM CDT
(Newser)
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North Korea's capital was prettied up last month to show off the country's nonexistent prosperity to the New York Philharmonic and the accompanying press corps, the LA Times reports. The visitors to Pyongyang ate luxurious meals in newly painted hotels, but after they finished, the lights went out. "As soon as you guys left, it was pitch dark again," said the local director of the UN's World Food Program.
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