Humanitarian issues

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO ASIAN CONFERENCE ON DISASTER REDUCTION,

UNDERSCORES NEED FOR SUSTAINED POLITICAL, FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

Sustainable Development also Needed to Reduce Vulnerability, He Says

UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE CALLS FOR URGENT INCREASE IN SUPPORT

FOR MALAWI FLASH APPEAL AS PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES

UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE FOR UNITED STATES RELIEF EFFORTS FOR HURRICANE KATRINA

$88 MILLION NEEDED TO AVERT FOOD INSECURITY IN MALAWI

GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 30 August (OCHA) -- The United Nations today launched a Flash Appeal for nearly $88 million for Malawi, where at least 4.2 million people -- 34 per cent of the total population -- are currently threatened by acute food insecurity.

HURRICANE KATRINA -- INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR WORST

(Reissued as received.)

UNITED NATIONS TO HOST WEST AFRICAN FORUM ON CHOLERA IN DAKAR , SENEGAL

FLOODS DEVASTATE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC , AS UN PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

STRENGTHENED FIRE-FIGHTING COOPERATION CALLED FOR, AS DESTRUCTIVE

SUMMER WILDFIRES CONTINUE IN PORTUGAL

NEARLY ONE MILLION FACE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SOMALIA

DONOR ALERT TO BE ISSUED FOR MALAWI

NEW YORK, 16 August (OCHA) -- Recent vulnerability assessments showing that 4.2 million to 4.6 million individuals remain at risk of food insecurity have prompted the United Nations system in Malawi to begin preparations to issue a Donor Alert for the country.