Latest news with #UnitedNationsOfficeforProjectServices
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Meeting with UNOPS country director: Jam highlights Balochistan's true uplift potential
ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has emphasised the immense development potential of Balochistan during a meeting with the Country Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and her delegation here. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Government of Pakistan and UNOPS, particularly in trade, infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth. During the discussion, minister Khan highlighted Balochistan's untapped opportunities in agriculture — especially date farming — as well as in fisheries and mineral resources. He said that the federal government, in close collaboration with the provincial government, is working to enhance infrastructure across various sectors in the province to create employment opportunities, empower women, and uplift communities in border areas. 'Balochistan holds great promise for trade and development,' the minister stated. 'We are committed to unlocking this potential through strategic investments in infrastructure, logistics, and value-chain systems, with a strong focus on regional inclusivity and sustainability.' He appreciated the support UNOPS has extended to Pakistan over the years, especially in delivering essential services in difficult and remote areas. He particularly acknowledged the organization's impactful work in solar energy for schools, water quality improvement, emergency flood response, and capacity building for law enforcement. The UNOPS country director expressed appreciation for the government's support and reiterated UNOPS' commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Commerce and other national stakeholders. She said that UNOPS is ready to support initiatives that promote sustainable trade, green logistics, and inclusive economic growth. She also briefed the minister on UNOPS' ongoing and upcoming projects, including infrastructure development in the health sector, plastic waste management, and the creation of climate-resilient training facilities for law enforcement personnel. She reaffirmed UNOPS' commitment to align its efforts with Pakistan's Vision 2025 and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–27. Minister Khan proposed the establishment of a dedicated coordination mechanism between the Ministry of Commerce and UNOPS to identify and implement joint priority projects. He also emphasised the importance of engaging women and small enterprises in export-oriented sectors such as textiles, IT, and handicrafts, agriculture, livestock, dates, fruits and rest untapped potentials. The meeting concluded with both sides expressing their resolve to work together to drive forward a shared development agenda, with a particular focus on supporting underserved regions like Balochistan. 'We believe this partnership with UNOPS can play a crucial role in fostering export-led growth and inclusive development, especially in areas that need it the most,' the minister said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Tank fire killed UN workerin Gaza
Israeli tank fire killed a UN worker in Gaza last month, according to initial findings from an investigation released Thursday by Israel's military, which initially denied operating in the area. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced on March 19 the death of one of its employees in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah when an unidentified piece of "explosive ordnance" hit their building. "According to the findings collected so far, the examination indicates that the fatality was caused by tank fire from IDF (Israeli military) troops operating in the area," the military said in a statement. "The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility". Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein also said on March 19 that "the initial examination found no connection... whatsoever" to Israeli military activity, though the circumstances were under investigation.
News24
24-04-2025
- Politics
- News24
Tank fire killed UN worker in Gaza, initial Israeli army probe says
An Israeli tank fire was responsible for the death of a UN worker in Gaza. This was initially denied but later confirmed. The building was targeted due to an assessed enemy presence and was mistakenly not identified as a UN facility. Israel expressed regret for the incident, shared its findings with the UN, and initiated reviews to prevent recurrence. An Israeli tank fire killed a UN worker in Gaza last month, according to initial findings from an investigation released on Thursday by Israel's military, which initially denied operating in the area. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced on 19 March the death of one of its employees in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah when an unidentified piece of "explosive ordnance" hit their building. "According to the findings collected so far, the examination indicates that the fatality was caused by tank fire from IDF (Israeli military) troops operating in the area," the military said in a statement. The building was struck due to assessed enemy presence and was not identified by the forces as a UN facility. At the time, an Israeli army spokesperson told AFP that "there was no IDF operational activity there and that the IDF didn't strike the UN compound". Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein also said on 19 March that "the initial examination found no connection... whatsoever" to Israeli military activity, though the circumstances were under investigation. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric later said "an Israeli tank" had hit the UN compound, killing a Bulgarian employee and severely wounding six others. The killing came a day after Israel renewed its intense bombardment of the Palestinian territory following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas Palestinian militants. In its statement on Thursday, Israel's military said it "regrets this serious incident and continues to conduct thorough review processes... to prevent such events in the future." "We express our deep sorrow for the loss and send our condolences to the family," it military said it had shared its initial findings with the UN. The latest investigation findings come after the military last Sunday reported on a separate probe into the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza. The military admitted that mistakes led to their deaths and said a field commander would be dismissed.
MTV Lebanon
02-04-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Myanmar junta should widen access for earthquake rescuers, aid and rights groups say
Myanmar's ruling junta should free up movement by international aid workers to help survivors of a devastating earthquake, even in areas controlled by groups battling it, aid and human rights groups said, as the death toll looks set to cross 3,000. The military has struggled to run Myanmar since overthrowing the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, reducing to tatters the economy and basic services including healthcare. With thousands injured and infrastructure crippled following Friday's quake of magnitude 7.7, regional authorities were struggling to cope and desperately needed support, the groups said. "The situation remains critical, with disrupted communications and road access hampering response efforts, particularly in Sagaing," the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said, referring to one hard-hit area. More than 28 million people live in the six regions affected by the quake, it added in a statement, saying it had $12 million in emergency funding for food, shelter, water, sanitation, mental health support and other services. China's official Xinhua news agency said the death toll rose to 2,886 on Wednesday, with 4,639 injured, citing the junta. The rural parts of hard-hit Sagaing were mostly under the control of armed resistance groups fighting the military government, the International Crisis Group said. "They will be among the most challenging for aid agencies to reach, given regime restrictions, a complex configuration of local administrations and control by armed resistance groups, and the persistent conflict," it added in a statement. Even before the quake, the ICG said, information had been hard to gather from such areas, because of a junta blackout of internet and mobile phone networks as part of the conflict. The military has dismissed as misinformation accusations that it committed widespread atrocities as it fought against a multi-pronged rebellion that followed the coup.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Myanmar junta should widen access for earthquake rescuers, aid and rights groups say
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar's ruling junta should free up movement by international aid workers to help survivors of a devastating earthquake, even in areas controlled by groups battling it, aid and human rights groups said, as the death toll looks set to cross 3,000. The military has struggled to run Myanmar since overthrowing the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, reducing to tatters the economy and basic services including healthcare. With thousands injured and infrastructure crippled following Friday's quake of magnitude 7.7, regional authorities were struggling to cope and desperately needed support, the groups said. "The situation remains critical, with disrupted communications and road access hampering response efforts, particularly in Sagaing," the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said, referring to one hard-hit area. More than 28 million people live in the six regions affected by the quake, it added in a statement, saying it had $12 million in emergency funding for food, shelter, water, sanitation, mental health support and other services. China's official Xinhua news agency said the death toll rose to 2,886 on Wednesday, with 4,639 injured, citing the junta. The rural parts of hard-hit Sagaing were mostly under the control of armed resistance groups fighting the military government, the International Crisis Group said. "They will be among the most challenging for aid agencies to reach, given regime restrictions, a complex configuration of local administrations and control by armed resistance groups, and the persistent conflict," it added in a statement. Even before the quake, the ICG said, information had been hard to gather from such areas, because of a junta blackout of internet and mobile phone networks as part of the military has dismissed as misinformation accusations that it committed widespread atrocities as it fought against a multi-pronged rebellion that followed the coup. UNFETTERED ACCESS Human Rights Watch urged the junta to allow unfettered access for humanitarian aid and lift curbs impeding aid agencies, saying donors should channel aid through independent groups rather than only junta authorities. "Myanmar's junta cannot be trusted to respond to a disaster of this scale," Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a report. "Concerned governments and international agencies need to press the junta to allow full and immediate access to survivors, wherever they are." Australia announced a further A$6.5 million ($4.1 million) in humanitarian support for Myanmar, supplied "through thoroughly vetted international and local partners." In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, "We take proactive steps to ensure our assistance does not legitimise the military regime in Myanmar." The military council has rejected requests from international journalists to cover the quake devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity and hotels. In neighbouring Thailand, the death toll from the quake rose to 22 on Wednesday, with hundreds of buildings damaged. Rescuers scoured for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok, where the death toll is 15, with 72 missing. The government is investigating the collapse and initial tests showed some steel samples from the site were substandard.
