Cholera Outbreak In Haiti, Accusation On UN Peacekeepers

Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

By ONE Liners Agency

The cholera outbreak in Haiti has claimed more than 4,500 lives, resembling a strain that is fast spreading in South Asian country. It has been accused that the strain was introduced into Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal and eventually caused a heavy violent anti-UN riots. However, UN and Nepalese authorities straightly denied the charges.

The United Nation in a declaration said that the report did not produce any conclusive and scientific evidence of a cholera link with UN peacekeepers. Further, the organization blamed a "confluence of circumstances" for the involvement in the outbreak.

Haiti has been suffering from different calamities since early 2010 when a devastating earthquake destroyed a major part of the country. After 10 months of the devastation, the epidemic spread and effected about 300,000 people.

According to a report by UN investigators, the outbreak was caused due human activity, blaming to the contamination of the Meye tributary system, near the Mirebalais camp housing Nepalese peacekeepers.

In its earlier report UN dismissed the report as rumors when it was alleged that the human fecal waste leaked into river systems caused the disease. In the report it gave the green signal to sanitary conditions for Nepalese peacekeepers. Now, in a recent report the panel said the sanitary condition at the base were not adequate and perhaps a cause for contamination.

Nevertheless, Michel Bonnardeaux, a spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping department, told Reuters news agency said the investigation panel didn't find any scientific evidence that proved the outbreak caused by Minustah peacekeepers or the Mirabalais camp.

North Korea Will Not Retaliate Over South Provocation: N. Korea

By ETHAN Markoff

NORTH KOREA NEWS - In a surprising note, North Korea proclaims it will not respond harshly over South Korea's "reckless provocations" over life-fire drills by the South on the flashpoint island of Yeonpyeong.

Earlier North attacked the island and said to continue more drills if South Korea wouldn't stop the live-fire. However, the state media in a recent report stated it was not worth reacting this time.

UN Security Council approach ended without any result after China refused to be in unison with the statement, which was critical to its friend North Korea.

The South's government has been under domestic pressure to take tough measures against North after an artillery fire exchanged on Korean border when North Korea army fired artillery shells onto a populated island near disputed waters, prompting return fire from South Korea. It is reported of injuring civilians and soldiers due to sudden conflict.

Before the attack on Yeonpyeong, the South ordered residents and other islands to take cover in air-raid shelters early Monday. South Koreans feared of heavy retaliation from the North, but surprisingly North Korean state news agency KCNA reported that the military had not planned for any attack.

In a report it said that the North Korea army did not feel to answer any despicable military provocations by the South.

"The world should properly know who is the true champion of peace and who is the real provocateur of a war." State Media said.

South Korean military spokesman Lee Bung-woo confirmed that there were no provocative fire from the North's side.

China and Russia urged both sides to remain calm and show restraint.

The US on the other hand backed South Korea to exercised military drills against The North and assured to help the South in this matter.

Uranium Enrichment In North Korea Troubles UN

By BOB Goswami

NORTH KOREA NEWS - Building pressure on North Korea, UN’s nuclear watchdog has expressed “concern” over North’s uranium enrichment facility.

Yukio Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it was a “great concern” of recent reports of nuclear enrichment in the troubled North Korea. Recently, a US nuclear scientist said that he was shown a new uranium light water reactor plant with at least 1,000 centrifuges in North Korea. North Korea also in this week admitted that thousands of centrifuges were operating at the plant.

Mr. Amano urged North to allow IAEA inspectors to enter the country to see nuclear progress but they were not allowed in the country.

It is said that the IAEA is the only multilateral organization for nuclear verification and claimed to play significant role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear programme.

It is reported that earlier North Korea tested nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009 and said to enter the final phase of uranium enrichment.

It is reported that the country has enough plutonium to build six atomic bombs but still not prepared any ballistic missile capable to carrying a nuclear warhead.

Earlier November the American nuclear scientist, Siegfried Hecker was shown nuclear plant at Yongbyon and expressed his surprise by the modern equipment North Korea was using to enrich uranium.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon Condemns Terrorist Attacks In Pakistan

By ONE Liners Agency

Pakistan Terrorist Attack

PAKISTAN NEWS – The terrorist attacked that shook Pakistani cities of Lahore and Quetta in this week quite a toll on already struggling nation. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly deplored the terrorist bombings and said it was unacceptable when the nation was already struggling from worst natural disaster.

The terrorist bombings took place at a Shitte Muslim rallyin Quetta that killed at least 42 people and left 80 wounded. In another attack in capital city Lahore, dozens of civilians killed and wounded scores more.

“These attacks, which deliberately targeted Shiite Muslims and killed or injured scores of civilians, are unacceptable,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The Secretary-General also paid his sincere condolences to deceased families and people of Pakistan.

It is reported that Taliban had warned that they would take revenge for the killing of a Sunni Muslim leader last year.

Pakistan has been targeted by a series of terrorist attacks this year, and in May United Nations human rights experts expressed their concern about the safety of civilian and religious minority in the region.

Earlier in July, in another ferocious attack 40 people were killed and wounded scores more during an attack on a shrine in Lahore, which is revered by Sufi Muslims.

Pakistan Flood: Facts And Figures Of Aids

Pakistan's Flood Effected

More than four million homeless.

Six million people desperate to get food, clean water.

Indus River is at forty times from its normal volume.

Asian Development Bank announced Thursday to offer $2 billion emergency loan for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

World Health Organization announced estimations on Wednesday saying over fifteen million people have been affected in the floods and only about 1.2 million of them are getting safe water supplies.

Out of 1,167 health facilities, 200 of it are damaged in the floods, including hospitals.

WHO reports of growing fatal diarrhea and respiratory tract infections.

By Wednesday United Nations, organizations and individuals had sent $231 million aid to Pakistan and had pledged to send another $40 million.

So far, UN alone has sent $82 million aid and is the largest single donor.

United States claim had contributed $90 million, which includes boats, helicopters and temporary bridges.

Britain has sent so far over $40 million and said to double it to over $90 million.

Among the Muslim countries, Turkey is the largest donor. The country has donated $11 million.

Kuwait donated $5 million according to UN figures.
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Further Read 

Pakistan Flood Coverage Lingers

The Aid For Pakistan Flood Helps To Keep Terrorists At Bay: Qureshi
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