UNFPA IN THE NEWS – DECEMBER 18-JANUARY 8, 2005

Given the UNFPA's size and resources relative to other humanitarian agencies, UNFPA has been very successful in drawing attention to its issues and to its quick and comprehensive response in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives – the three countries hardest hit by the disaster. HQ staff members have been interviewed many times on CNN, the BBC, UN Radio, and on radio stations in the United States, Europe and Australia – always as a major humanitarian player in the response overall and as the authoritative UN agency addressing women’s reproductive health needs in particular. In many news articles UNFPA has received equal billing with UNICEF, WFP and other humanitarian agencies. Below is some of the coverage from print media in English - other languages are not yet covered by this compilation service.

New Straits Times (Malaysia) reported January 6 that in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami that struck South Asia, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, called on governments, sister UN agencies and other humanitarian partners to ensure that the special needs of women and girls are factored into all short and medium-term relief planning. The United Nations warned that a "second wave" of the disaster could be even deadlier than the first, as millions of people face health risks due to contamination of drinking water and devastation of health infrastructure. Read: Reuters: Dec. 28, Jan. 1, Jan. 3, Inter Press Service: Dec. 29, Jan. 2, UN News Centre: Dec. 31, Jan. 6, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Women’s Enews, Daily News (Sri Lanka), Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)

In a January 6 story by Indo-Asian News Service, UNFPA executive director Thoraya Obaid said, "At a time when countless women have been left to head up households and to care for children and other survivors, their security must be a top priority of all affected governments and relief workers.” In a December 30 story by The Daily Telegraph (U.K.), another UNFPA official, David Del Vecchio, added: "Tens of thousands of pregnant and nursing women are at risk. A disproportionate number of fatalities were men, leaving women-headed households needing extra support." Read: Indo-Asian News Service: Jan. 3, Jan. 6, Daily Telegraph

Saudi Press Association reported December 30 that the World Bank announced the release of $250 million dollars in emergency money for disaster relief in the countries devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in Asia at a meeting in New York with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and other heads of U.N. agencies involved in disaster relief. Other officials at the meeting include U.N. emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, and representatives from the U.N.'s World Health Organization and several major private relief charities.

Sunday Express (U.K.) reported January 2 that medical supplies were being rushed to more than 150,000 pregnant women in the disaster areas who may face complications. "Over 50,000 women within the affected communities will give birth in the next three months," said a statement by UNFPA. "The damage to health facilities and loss of basic delivery care supplies has jeopardized their chances to deliver under clean and safe circumstances," it added.

The Independent (U.K.) reported January 1 that experience from previous disasters such as the earthquake in Bam, Iran, last year and the hurricane that struck the Caribbean in September has shown that women and girls suffered most, according to UNFPA. Women were more vulnerable to poor nutrition, at risk from anemia and, as care-givers, had more people dependent on them. "To assume they can compete for food and resources in emergencies is not right," said Sultan Aziz, UNFPA director of the Asia and Pacific region.
Read: The Independent

Jakarta Post (Indonesia) reported January 6 that UNFPA national program officer Samidjo said his organization was concentrating more on health issues related to Acehnese women affected by the disaster. "There are over 25,000 pregnant women in Aceh who require immediate care," he said, adding that UNFPA currently had five staffers in Aceh to assess all the needs of the victims. "We are planning to send hygiene kits, along with head-scarves, sarongs, towels and T-shirts immediately to Aceh," said Samidjo. The UNFPA has allocated over $480,000 to purchase the hygiene kits and reproductive health kits for the next six months. "We are planning to send 370,000 mattresses and umbilical cord cutters for pregnant women to have safe and clean child births at refugee camps," said Samidjo.
Read: Jakarta Post

A January 4 editorial by Charleston Gazette (U.S.) noticed: “One special area of need has been highlighted by the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). Tens of thousands of women who survived the tsunami are doubly vulnerable because they are either pregnant or nursing babies. Many lost husbands and other family members. In all these places, UNFPA is working especially to help women by supplying items such as clean delivery kits, blood for transfusions, and other mobile obstetric equipment to prevent maternal and infant deaths. Contributions can be made to UNFPA at the Web site www.uscommittee.org.”
Read: Charleston Gazette

In her December 31 column that ran in The Pioneer Press (U.S.), Glenda Holste wrote, “Almost everyone seems to be leaving rivalries, animosities, religious and political agendas aside. The American right-wingers haven't made a peep about the work the United Nations Population Fund has already put in the field to help women and girls caught up in the tsunami's aftermath.” She concluded, “Perhaps in the fullness of time, we will learn that the day the face of the earth changed, so too did humanity's heart.” Read: Pioneer Press

In a January 4 op ed that ran in the Redlands Daily Facts (U.S.), Jane Roberts, co-founder of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA, encouraged readers: “In your concern for all the victims of the tsunami, give an extra thought to the women and girls. Information is available online at www.unfpa.org. Two and a half years ago I co-founded 34 Million Friends of UNFPA. Information is available at www.34millionfriends.org. She concluded, “May 2005 find the human family more united in helping the poor and suffering.”

OP EDS TRY TO DIMINISH UNFPA’S RELIEF EFFORTS

On January 4 The Calgary Herald (Canada) ran an op ed by Charles Moore who criticized relief efforts for tsunami victims. He wrote: “There's CARE Canada, a non-sectarian Canadian relief agency. Like OXFAM and UNICEF, CARE does many commendable works throughout the world, but states on its website that it works with UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development program (UNDP) on programming related to children, sexual and reproductive health, and human development. Whoops! That's code for promoting abortion as a ‘solution’ to poverty.” Read: Calgary Herald

The Daily Telegraph (U.K.) ran a January 4 op ed by Mark Steyn who wrote: “In Sri Lanka, Egeland's staff informs us, ‘UNFPA is carrying out reproductive health assessments’. Which, translated out of UN-speak, means the Sri Lankans can go screw themselves.” Read: Daily Telegraph

The Times (U.K.) ran a December 31 op ed by Rosemary Righter who wrote: “Duplication abounds. In addition to OCHA, there is UNDAC for Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination; and nearly all UN agencies have their own disasters unit. This week UNDP, whose remit is development not emergencies, zealously dispatched ‘disaster reduction’ specialists from its Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Galaxies of other UN ‘experts’, even from the UNFPA (family planning), are packing flights to Asia.” Read: The Times

BANGLADESH: Adolescent Reproductive Health Fair

The Daily Star (Bangladesh) reported January 4 that hundreds of students and their parents attended a health fair at Moulvibazar Kashinath Alauddin High School. This was the first health fair for adolescents on reproductive health jointly funded by the European Union and UNFPA with cooperation from the district administration. Read: Daily Star

CHINA: Day of 1.3 Billionth Citizen

Agence France-Presse reported January 6 that the "Day of 1.3 Billion" officially arrived in China with state media hailing the merits of the government's stringent "one child" family planning policy in focusing on the birth of the nation's 1.3 billionth citizen. AFP noted that Western critics have increasingly prodded China to seek better methods to lower fertility, while applying solutions to other demographic issues. "It is increasingly positive that the demographic challenges China is facing is now not only seen as a fertility issue," Siri Tellier, UNFPA China representative, told AFP. "There is now a clear intention by the government to address other demographic issues like employment and ageing."

A January 6 story by Xinhua General News Service noted that China is also increasingly advancing into an ageing society. It is estimated that the proportion of the elderly in China would rise from 7 percent now to 11.8 percent in 2020 and exceed 400 million by the middle of this century. "China will get old before it gets rich," warned Tellier.

The Associated Press reported January 6 that China’s government spokesman deny that women are coerced into having abortions, saying forced abortions aren't sanctioned and officials who carry them out can be punished. The U.S. government is among those who say forced abortions occur, and it has withheld money from the U.N. Population Fund the past three years because of claims that the agency supports the Beijing regime's family planning program. Read: Associated Press, Reuters, The Times (London), The Scotsman (Ireland)

CHINA: China Moves to Tighten Up Laws against Selective Abortion

Agence France-Presse reported January 7 that China is seeking to beef up laws on prohibiting the use of selective abortion of female fetuses. "There are 40 million more men than women in the general population but this has always existed in China due to a traditional preference for boys over girls," said Siri Tellier, UNFPA representative in China. "What is new is that the gender imbalance is now beginning at birth due to the use of ultra-sound technology that can identify the gender of babies that are still in the womb." Tellier said China must do more to address the root causes of its gender imbalance, which largely stems from traditional inheritance practices of land being handed down to sons and sons staying home with families while daughters are sent away to live with their in-laws. "Traditional views of women need to change in China, especially as more and more people are leaving rural areas for cities where lifestyles are greatly changing," Tellier said. Read: Agence France-Presse

CHINA: Abortions Banned in Guiyang after 14 Weeks

The Guardian (UK) reported December 16 that the Chinese city of Guiyang introduced a pilot program aimed at halting widespread female infanticide. The new policy bans doctors from carrying out abortions on most women who are more than 14 weeks into pregnancy. International development workers gave a cautious welcome to the announcement, noting that the health risk to mothers is 10 to 20 times lower if abortions are carried out in the first rather than the third trimester. "If this is part of a trend in China, it is very good news indeed," said Siri Tellier, UNFPA representative in Beijing. Read: The Guardian

CHINA: Largest Organization Launched Nationwide HIV/AIDS Program

Xinhua General News Service reported January 4 that China Family Planning Association is to launch a nationwide campaign against AIDS in the country's 500 counties. The Director-general of China Family Planning Association Li Baozhong said they also plan to cooperate with UNFPA on an AIDS prevention project in the universities and middle schools of Beijing and Shanghai. Read: Xinhua General News Service

CUBA: Obaid Praises Cuba’s Family Planning Services

Xinhua General News Service reported December 19 that UNFPA’s executive director, Thoraya Obaid, praised Cuba for advances made in sexual and reproductive health. "What I have seen in the island nation in terms of sanitary conditions, reproductive and sexual health, as well as education is something I have not observed in any other country I visited in the past," said Obaid. Inter Press Service also reported on December 22 that the need for youngsters to have access to sexual and reproductive health services and information has been a subject of heated debate, said Obaid. The story noted that Obaid took part in a December 17 workshop, "Cuba, Ten Years after Cairo," during a three-day visit to the Caribbean nation. Read: Xinhua General News Service, Inter Press Service

GAMBIA: Equipment Donated for Youth Centers

Gambia Daily News reported December 21 that equipment for two youth centers in the provinces have been handed over to the Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, by the UNFPA country director Suzanne Maiga Konate, at a State House ceremony. The materials are for refurbished buildings in Farafenni and Pakalinding, which will operate as youth centers providing youth-friendly services to young people. The items handed over were furniture such as conference tables and chairs, stand fans, refrigerators, generators as well as furniture for the documentation and counseling rooms, electronic equipment such as television sets, videos, microphones, tape recorders, computers, printers and accessories, as well as equipment for playing basketball, volleyball and table tennis. Read: Gambia Daily News

INDIA: Youth Center Opened

Hindustan Times (India) reported December 26 that the Family Planning Association of India has established an Adolescent Resource Center, “Mitr,” under its 'Go 4 Health Club' project. The center was inaugurated by the UNFPA state program officer, Dr. Narendra Kumar. Speaking on the occasion, he said that young people have limited knowledge on their reproductive health aspects and sources of information from peers and media. He stressed that such centers would be multi-purpose community-based hubs, which will effectively facilitate the growing up process by providing facilities to meet young people's needs and interests. Around 100 youth were present during the inauguration.

JAMAICA: UNFPA Representative Leaves Post

The Gleaner (Jamaica) reported Hetty Sarjeant, UNFPA representative in Jamaica, leaves office this week after two and a half years on the job. The 63-year-old Sarjeant, who has the distinction of being the first Caribbean person to be representative in Jamaica and the first female representative in Jamaica for the UNFPA, took up duties in May 2002. The story noted that Sarjeant will now be involved in private consultancy assignments. Read: The Gleaner

JAMAICA: Increased Funding to Educate More about HIV/AIDS

The Jamaica Observer reported January 1 that the health ministry is hoping to reach more Jamaicans with its message about HIV/AIDS this year following increased funding to help in its fight against the deadly sexual disease. International funding agencies along with UNFPA have played significant roles in the development and implementation of prevention programs. Read: Jamaica Observer

KYRGYZSTAN: 2005-2009 Action Plans Approved

AKI Press reported December 30 that the Kyrgyz government and UNFPA have approved the action plans for the 2005-2009 country program.

LIBERIA: Social Workers Honored

The Analyst (Liberia) reported December 22 that UNFPA honored 42 UNFPA DDRR social workers who worked for the agency during the disarmament and demobilization of ex-combatants throughout the country. The honorees who were engaged in sensitizing and creating awareness about STIs, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, family planning, gender concerns and psychosocial counseling, also conducted vocational counseling and HIV/AIDS prevention coupled with the distribution of condoms to some 96,527 ex-combatants during the disarmament process, said the UNFPA release. Read: The Analyst, The Inquirer (Liberia)

NEPAL: Former Trainer Named President for National Federation of Disabled

Nepal News reported December 30 that Birendra Pokhrel, the newly elected president of the National Federation of Disabled, is all set to empower the disabled persons of the country and ensure them equal rights. Nepal News noted that Pokhral had joined a UNFPA project as a trainer for Promotion of Family Health. Read: Nepal News

NIGERIA: 2005 Census Important for the Region

This Day reported December 30 that Niangoran Essan, UNFPA country representative, said that it is important that the 2005 Census succeeds because of the spillover effect it will have on countries in the West African sub-region. "If we succeed with this exercise in Nigeria, and achieve a credible, acceptable and transparent census, the data so derived will spur socio-economic development not only in Nigeria, but in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). Read: This Day

PAKISTAN: Maternal Mortality

A December 29 story by Inter Press Service cited UNFPA as stating that the maternal mortality ratio in Pakistan, officially estimated to be 533 per 100,000 live births, can be curbed considerably. Read: Inter Press Service

PAKISTAN: Gender and Maternal Health Issues Need to Be Examined Together

Inter Press Service reported December 20 that every 20 minutes a woman loses her life while giving birth in Pakistan – a country with 33 million women in their childbearing age. Read: Inter Press Service: Dec. 20, Dec. 27

PAKISTAN: Effective Monitoring System and Sensible Field Staff Must Be Developed

A December 31 story by Pakistan Newswire mentioned that at a two-day District Health and Population Management workshop, Provincial Minster for Population Naseem Lodhi, other representatives of federal government, provincial government, health, population welfare and UNFPA addressed the workshop.

PAKISTAN AND UNITED KINGDOM: Officers Trained to Deal with ‘Honor Killings’

Press Association (U.K.) reported December 30 that two British police officers are heading to Pakistan in the New Year to help train the country's officers to deal with so-called “honor killings.” The story mentioned that UNFPA estimates that 5,000 women and girls are murdered by family members each year in so-called honor killings. They occur not just in Asian communities but also in Middle East countries, Turkey, Eastern Europe and West Africa. Read: Press Association

UGANDA: Female Genital Cutting Still Rife in Kapchorwa

The Monitor (Uganda) reported December 29 that for nine years, the UNFPA-funded Reproductive, Educative and Community Health program has been mobilizing women in Kapchorwa to abandon female genital cutting. Read: The Monitor

UGANDA: Sabiny Men Speak Out On FGM

The Monitor (Uganda) reported December 26 that advocacy activities by a network of organizations for the elimination of female genital mutilation, spearheaded by the REACH (Reproductive Education and Community Health) project launched by UNFPA in the mid-1990s have had a tremendous impact. The painful experience of Muneria's wife, a mother of three and the crusade by REACH is the combination that now makes him and other men in Kapchorwa to openly talk against FGM. "This practice is bad. It left a scar in the private parts of my wife and this limits elasticity during childbirth and the pain has been unbearable," said Muneira. Read: The Monitor

UGANDA: UNFPA Donates Supplies

New Vision (Kenya) reported January 3 that UNFPA has donated five motorcycles, 50 bicycles and 30 traditional birth attendants' kits to Rwenzori Health and Sustainable Development Fund. The organization is based in Bukonzo West County in Kasese district. During the donation ceremony, UNFPA country representative Dr. James Kuria, called on parents to practice family planning so that they properly take care of their children. Read: New Vision

UNITED STATES AND CHINA: China Defends One-Child Policy in Response to U.S. Criticism

Associated Press reported December 21 that China rejected U.S. complaints that its one-child policy encourages forced abortions, saying the regulations that limit most urban couples to one child are necessary for the country's economic health. The story also mentioned that U.S. President George W. Bush's administration has for the last three years barred U.S. funds for UNFPA, saying its support allows China to carry out coercive abortions. Read: Associated Press

UNITED STATES: Suggestions to Improve U.S. Reputation

In a January 6 op ed that ran in The International Herald Tribune, Anne C. Richard, vice president of the International Rescue Committee, who was director of resources, plans and policy at the State Department from 1999 to 2001, suggested one of the many ways to improve the U.S. use of development aid: “Fourth, America should recognize that what it does in foreign aid sets an example that others may emulate or reject. This can have good results (when an emphasis on aid effectiveness becomes a hot topic internationally) and bad (when the United States abandons the UN population fund and others must pick up the slack).” Read: International Herald Tribune

UNITED STATES: Conservatives Take Over Humanitarian Causes

In a December 22 column that ran in The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof wrote: “I'm embarrassed to say that Democrats have been so suspicious of Republicans that they haven't contributed much on those human rights issues where the Christian right has already staked out its ground.” Kristof also mentioned: “The Christian right's ventures abroad strike me as deeply misguided in some areas: ‘pro-life’ policies lead to women dying in botched abortions, and squeamishness about condoms leads to teenagers dying of AIDS. The conservatives' cutoff of money for the U.N. Population Fund has meant less contraception, more abortions and more mothers dying in childbirth.”

UNITED STATES: Local Nurse Recognized for Work in Bosnia

On December 31, The Ventura County Star (U.S.) recognized local nurses. One nurse, Kathleen McChesney, went to Bosnia on a United Nations Population Fund externship. While there, she worked to improve access to reproductive healthcare for Bosnian women. Read: Ventura County Star

VIETNAM: UN Agencies Commit to 2005 Funding

Voice of Vietnam reported January 5 that twelve United Nations organizations have committed to providing Vietnam a total of $74.4 million to help it achieve sustainable socio-economic development and improve the people’s living conditions in 2005. UNFPA agreed to inject $5 million into projects to raise the quality and efficiency of reproductive healthcare services in Vietnam and enhance the national capacity in executing population policies. Read: Vietnam News Agency

VIETNAM: UNFPA Praises Vietnam’s Reproductive Health Programs

Voice of Vietnam reported December 21 that Vietnam has made considerable progress in improving reproductive health care for the people, UNFPA resident representative in Vietnam Ian Howie said. In its report, the UNFPA highly praised Vietnam for adopting a new population ordinance and giving top priority to population activities and reproductive health care in the country's comprehensive growth and poverty reduction program. Read: Vietnam News Agency

YEMEN: First Census Underway in Ten Years

IRIN reported December 22 that more than 23,000 data-collectors have set out with data books to each and every household in the country to count the population, in Yemen's first census in 10 years. The results will be published in about six months and will be used as the basis for developing social policy and allocating new schools, hospitals and other facilities. The Yemen government is funding most of the census at a cost of more than $1 million. Foreign donors including, USAID and UNFPA, provided other grants such as equipment, preliminary surveys and training. Read: IRIN

YEMEN: Gender and Development Workshop

Yemen Times reported December 27 that with support from UNFPA and the Women National Committee along with the Red Crescent Association, a 2-day workshop on gender and development concluded on Sunday December 26. Rasheeda AL-Hamadani, the head of Women National Committee, said in statement to Yemen Times, “This workshop will focus on the gender issues and its tools and how they can be incorporated into development for the Red Crescent volunteers as the association has big staff who have efficiently worked during the war and in other activities. Read: Yemen Times

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