<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> -- Refugee women's need for safe birthing and reproductive health care is a critical humanitarian issue that calls for stepped up relief efforts and cooperation, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said today in statements as they marked World Refugee Day by agreeing to boost cooperation in this area.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>Geneva</b> -- Decades of violence, war and civil strife have had a disastrous impact on women and men's reproductive health, international experts on refugees and health noted today.</p>

<p> <b>Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire</b> - Governments in developing countries should do everything possible to secure the supply of reproductive health essentials, and to strengthen policies and laws ensuring access to such commodities.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b>--At a global meeting on food security, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today urged the international community to take practical steps to reduce poverty and hunger.</p>

<p> <b>KABUL</b>-- Essential medical equipment and supplies, valued at over $200,000, were delivered to two of Kabul's two principal maternity care facilities this week.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> (from UN Department of Public of Information) -- The Secretary-General announced today that he is giving Nafis Sadik, his Special Adviser, additional responsibilities as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will replace a shipment of condoms intended for use in Tanzania, after a laboratory in the United States found defects in samples submitted for testing.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b>--It is crucial that the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children reaffirm governments' commitment to ensure that young people have access to youth-friendly reproductive health information and services, Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told a press conference here Wednesday.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> – Responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is asking donors to provide $3.6 million for emergency assistance over the next six to eight months, particularly for reproductive health and safe delivery assistance to vulnerable Palestinian women and girls.</p>

UNITED NATIONS, NewYork - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Development Gateway Foundation today announced the launch of the POP/RH Portal, an Internet initiative focusing on population and reproductive health.

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - Efforts to prevent, control and treat HIV infections must become a standard component of the international community's humanitarian response to armed conflict and post-conflict situations, an expert meeting concluded here on Friday.</p>

<p class="bodytext">While tens of thousands of Afghan refugees are returning home each week, many more remain in refugee camps in Pakistan, dependent on continued assistance from UN and non-governmental agencies.</p>