UN in Indonesia Newsletter Volume 2 2022

Dear readers,

The United Nations family in Indonesia would like to wish you Eid Mubarak!

As we gather with our loved ones for the festivities—whether in person or over digital devices—let us delight in being together. In moments like these, we can’t help but appreciate the abundance in our lives.

At the same time, we reflect on the fact not everyone enjoys such abundance. Even as we visit neighbours, enjoy ketupat, and try on new clothes, some of our brothers and sisters are hungry, huddling in bomb shelters, or fleeing their homes. And while tragedies like the war in Ukraine rightly make headlines, other conflicts churn more insidiously—like the one between humans and nature. Globally, ten million hectares of forest are destroyed each year while some 31,000 species are currently threatened with extinction.

In line with this month’s SDG, Life on Land, let’s consider our responsibility to our brothers and sisters, but also to the natural world that sustains us all. In Indonesia, boosting the green agenda and preventing climate change is especially critical. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) had recorded at least 1,175 natural disasters in 2022 by early April, displacing about 1.6 million people.

This edition collates stories that highlight our collective efforts to recover better from COVID-19, including protecting life on land and protecting each other. In that vein, I urge all of you undertaking mudik, or homecoming, to remain vigilant and to observe the COVID-19 health protocols this week.

Happy reading.