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"Dramatic" 2010 for United Nations: the year in review

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You're listening to United Nations Radio, I'm Daniel Dickinson.

In this special programme, we're taking a look back at 2010, a year when a huge earthquake struck the Caribbean island of Haiti, when millions of people across the world tried to break out of poverty and when the UN mobilized relief and was called on to provide long-term solutions for the planet - for peace, nuclear disarmament, climate change.

The year began in a dramatic and shocking way. In January, one of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck Haiti, 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.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the devastated country:

BAN KI-MOON:

"This is a moment of sadness, but it is also a moment of Haiti's need."

The relief effort in Haiti has continued throughout the year. As apart of its response to the disaster, the UN appointed a special relief coordinator: President Bill Clinton.

BILL CLINTON

"The thing that impresses me is how in the midst of this awful tragedy they are imagining a future."

NARRATION

The pain was not over for Haiti. A hurricane and floods also struck the Caribbean island - then a cholera outbreak prompted a new emergency appeal. More than 2100 people have died so far and more than 50,000 have been hospitlalized. The United Nations and its partners continue the fight against cholera, saving many lives.

In 2010, there was also tragedy in Pakistan, where massive floods destroyed a quarter of a million homes. At one point one fifth of the country was under water and hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in search of shelter and safety.

In Niger, in West Africa 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 feed families through the lean season, when food is in short supply and prices go up.

2010 was another busy year for Peacekeeping operations. 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 mission, where peacekeepers helped distribute ballots for Sudan's first multi-party election in 24 years. After decades of conflict, members of a remote cattle camp at the Nile river see the elections as an opportunity for peace:

MANGOK MAPER, is a cattle herder:

"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 in New York, heads of state warned that Sudan's future depends on the successful outcome of referenda this coming January, in which the south of the country will vote on possible independence from the north.

US President, Barack Obama:

BARACK OBAMA:

"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."

You're listening to a review of the year from the United Nations, I'm Daniel Dickinson.

In central Africa.....in the Democratic Republic of Congo, instability remained as rebel groups continued to fight the army and indiscriminately attack villages.

In North Kivu, peacekeepers escorted villagers travelling long distances to a market.

This VILLAGER says the UN mission in the Congo...then known as MONUC had made a significant difference to their lives.

"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.

MARGOT WALLSTR=D6M

"I have witnessed firsthand their determination to do all they possibly can to protect civilians, but the reality is that they are overstretched and underresourced."

In the Horn of Africa state, Somalia, tens of thousands of people fled the latest deadly clashes in the capital Mogadishu...thousands still live in temporary shelters in the Afgoye corridor north of Mogadishu and in other parts of the country...hundreds of thousands of others have fled across the border to Neighbouring Kenya.

Off the Somali coast, the problem of piracy continues. 20 ships and more than 400 people are still being held by pirates, according to the World Maritime Organization.

In Afghanistan, delegations from 70 countries agreed 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.

Despite Taliban threats, more than 4 million people voted in the parliamentary elections in September. UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura:

STAFFAN DE MISTURA:

"Afghanistan is still a country in a very tense conflict. The fact that the election took place at all - is an accomplishment in itself."

One of the Middle East's longest running issues...the question of how Israel and the Palestinians can co-exist.....remained high on the political agenda at the UN.

The Middle East Quartet urged all the principal players to keep the peace process between Israel and Palestine going. Israeli President, Shimon Peres:

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."

NARRATION

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas had this to say:

MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT: (Arabic)

"Our wounded hands are still able to carry the olive branch from the rubble of the trees that the occupation uproots every day."

The control of nuclear weapons is another key objective of the UN

In Prague, the US and Russia signed a new arms reduction treaty and at the UN the 189 Member nations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty agreed to cut nuclear arsenals in a series of small steps.

The UN continues to push for a ban on all nuclear tests through the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA; but there's still concern that North Korea and Iran are attempting to make nuclear bombs.

Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

"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." (17)

2010 has been the year of biodiversity. 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.

And in Cancun in Mexico, earlier this month...significant progress was made at the UN's Climate Change conference.

This year heads of State gathered at the UN to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs...goals which it's hoped will create a world free of extreme poverty by 2015.

A lot has been achieved since the year 2000, when the MDGs were launched.

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.....

Speaking to World leaders, The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban-Ki-moon said it was possible to meet the MDGs

BAN KI-MOON:

"Between now and 2015, we must make sure that promises made become promises kept. The consequences of doing otherwise are profund: death, illness and despair, needless suffering, lost opportunities for millions upon millions of people. We must hold each other accountable."

You've been listening to a review of the year at the United Nations. This is Daniel Dickinson at UN headquarters in New York.