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*** SPECIAL FEED *** ACCESS ALL ****
STORY: 2010 UN YEAR IN REVIEW
TRT: 9:24
SOURCE: FILE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / DINKA / SWAHILI / ARABIC / NATS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
DATELINE: FILE
2010 – A year when the earth shook and millions struggled to survive. The United Nations (UN) mobilized relief – and was called on to provide long-term solutions for the planet – for peace, nuclear disarmament, climate change – and universal human rights.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The great goals are within reach. We can achieve them by looking forward, pulling together, uniting our strength as community of nations, in the name of the larger good.”
In January, one of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck Haiti, already the poorest country of the Western hemisphere. 300.000 people lost their lives as large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, became a graveyard. Aid came in, but the logistical challenges were many. Despite the difficulties, the United Nations delivered millions of food rations and doctors from all over the world helped the injured.
Haiti’s tragedy was also a tragedy for the UN. 101 staffers lost their lives when the UN mission’s headquarters collapsed (9 sec). Miraculously, one staff member, Jens Kristensen was found alive after being buried in rubble for five days.
As the UN family mourned its loss – the Organization pledged to carry on.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“They chased the flame. Wherever they went, they carried the light of hope. We will never forget you – we will carry on your work.”
A special relief coordinator was appointed: President Bill Clinton.
SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Clinton, UN Special Envoy for Haiti:
“The thing that impresses me is how in the middle of this awful tragedy they are imagining the future.”
This clothing factory and some schools re-opened quickly - but rebuilding the country is a slow process. A hurricane and floods also struck Haiti – then a cholera outbreak prompted a new emergency appeal.
In 2010, there was tragedy in Pakistan, where massive floods destroyed a quarter of a million homes. One fifth of the country was under water. The UN launched a major airlift and tried to drum up donor support. But many people are still homeless. What’s more, receding flood waters washed up landmines from recent conflicts – a dangerous trap for many.
In Niger, more than 7 million people, about half of the population, lost their crops and livestock in a severe drought. Nearly 80 % of Niger’s children are malnourished.
The World Food Program rolled out emergency food assistance in Niger and neighbouring Chad to keep families fed through the lean season, when food is in short supply and prices go up.
This year, more than 124,000 UN peacekeepers were deployed in 16 missions around the world. In Darfur, badly needed helicopters finally arrived at the UN peacekeeping mission, where peacekeepers helped to distribute ballots for Sudan’s first multi-party election in 24 years. After decades of conflict, members of this remote cattle camp at the Nile River see the elections as an opportunity for peace:
SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Mangok Maper, Cattle Herder, Sudan:
“During the war I thought that I was going to lose my life. Now we have peace in this land and I don’t want to die.”
At UN headquarters, heads of state warned that Sudan’s future depends on the successful outcome of referenda next year, in which the south of the country will vote on possible independence from the north.
SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, President, United States:
“No one can impose progress and peace on another nation, ultimately only Sudanese leaders can ensure that the referenda go forward and Sudan finds peace.”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo peacekeepers escorted villagers travelling long distances to a market in North Kivu. Rebel groups were operating in the area, often robbing and killing civilians.
SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Villager, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
“Looting and pillaging has now stopped after MONUC started the escorts.”
Peacekeepers stepped up their patrols after they failed to prevent the gang-rapes of hundreds of women by the rebels. Margot Wallström, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, visited victims and saw peacekeepers trying their best to secure a vast area.
SOUNDBITE (English) Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations:
“I have witnessed firsthand their determination to do all they possibly can to protect civilians, but the reality is that they are overstretched and under-resourced.”
To prevent rapes, some refugee camps have introduced solar stoves so that the women don’t have to go out and collect firewood any more.
In Somalia, thousands of people fled the latest deadly clashes in Mogadishu. Off the nation’s coast, 20 ships and more than 400 passengers are held by pirates, according to the World Maritime Organization.
In Afghanistan, delegations from 70 countries agreed on an Afghan-led political framework for peace and reconciliation. But new reports show a sharp rise in insurgent attacks – including a 55 % increase in children being injured.
The Middle East Quartet urged all the principal players to keep the peace process between Israel and Palestine going. Israeli President, Shimon Peres:
SOUNDBITE (English) Shimon Peres, President, Israel:
“We are now negotiating with the Palestinians in order to realize the two-state-solution. A Jewish state, Israel. An Arab state – Palestinian. There is no other peaceful alternative to that conflict.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President:
“Our wounded hands are still able to carry the olive branch from the rubble of the trees that the occupation uproots every day.”
In a joyful break from the tensions in Gaza, more than 6000 children took part in a kite flying contest at the UN Relief and Works Agency’ summer camp – and set a new world record.
At the UN the 189 Member nations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty agreed to cut nuclear arsenals in a series of small steps. UN Messenger of Peace, Michael Douglas:
SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Douglas, Actor:
“It is my profound hope that we could be witnessing the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons.”
But there’s still concern that North Korea and Iran are attempting to make nuclear bombs.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I call on Iran to fully comply with Security Council Resolutions and fully cooperate with the IAEA. I encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea…to realize the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
2010 is the year of biodiversity. These orphaned gorilla babies in Congo lost their parents to poachers. Peacekeepers airlifted them to a nature reserve to help reduce illegal trading in endangered species.
In Nagoya, the 193 members of the Convention on Biological Diversity vowed to halt the loss of the world’s plant and animal species, increase protection for the world’s vital ecosystems, and to share the Earth’s genetic resources equally.
This year heads of State gathered at the UN to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals to create a world free of extreme poverty by 2015.
A lot has been achieved since the year 2000. Three million more children survive past the age of 5 every year. More than five million people in developing countries have access to affordable drugs for HIV/AIDS - and millions more boys AND girls are going to school. For the first time in decades significantly fewer women are dying in childbirth.
Promoting the interests of women and girls across the globe, the UN created a new entity for Gender Equality, called UN WOMEN.
With a billion people still hungry, the challenges facing the world are tremendous.
The UN worked together with governments, the private sector and even royalty. Queen Elizabeth the Second came to the UN more than 50 years after her first visit:
SOUNDBITE (English) Queen Elizabeth:
“We are not gathered here to reminisce. In tomorrow’s world we must all work together as hard as ever if we are truly to be United Nations.”
