italy provides $1.5 million for un agricultural project in west bank, gaza

(Reissued as received.)

Rome, 29 July (FAO) -- Around 1,500 farming households in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will benefit from an agricultural pilot project over the next two years, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.

The project will be implemented by FAO and funded by Italy with around $1.5 million.

Background Release                                               

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION PAYS OUT $177.5 MILLION

(Reissued as received.)

JAPAN PLEDGES FUNDS FOR DRUG DEMAND-REDUCTION PROGRAMME IN AFGHANISTAN

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 29 July (UN  Information  Service) -- The Government of Japan pledged a contribution of approximately $1 million, towards a project aimed at drug demand-reduction in Afghanistan, to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) today.

EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

FOR ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN MEETS AT HEADQUARTERS

HUDSON RIVER SWIMMER HIGHLIGHTS UN’S DECADE FOR ACTION,

‘WATER FOR LIFE’ 2005-2015

New York, 28 July -- In a prelude to the United Nations International Decade for Action on Water beginning in March 2005, long distance swimmer Christopher Swain hopes to inspire citizens on every continent to protect their local waterways as he today becomes the first person in history to swim the entire 315-mile length of the Hudson River.

UN-SUPPORTED ‘EARTHDIVE’ INITIATIVE TO BOOST PROTECTION OF OCEANS, SEAS

(Reissued as received.)

CAMBRIDGE/NAIROBI, 27 July (UNEP) -- Snorkellers and scuba divers across the globe are being enlisted to help save the world's oceans and seas.

Security Council                                                 

UNITED NATIONS HELPS ALLEVIATE BANGLADESH’S WORSENING FLOOD SITUATION

NEW YORK, 27 July (OCHA) -- A new Operations Coordination Room has been set up to consolidate all assessments of the situation on the ground in Bangladesh, where the flood situation is deteriorating.  The Room falls under the Disaster and Emergency Response area of Bangladesh’s Local Consultative Group, which includes such bodies as the United Nations and the World Bank.

UN EXPERTS APPEAL TO IRAN TO COMPLY WITH HUMAN

RIGHTS NORMS IN CASE OF DEAD JOURNALIST

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 27 July (UN Information Service) -- The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Special Rapporteur on torture of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights: