U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central Asia

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Central Asia
IRIN-CA Weekly Round-up 85
09 - 15 November 2002


CONTENTS:

PAKISTAN: Evacuation of quake victims nears completion
UZBEKISTAN: Focus on child health
AFGHANISTAN: University clashes leave four dead
AFGHANISTAN: Kabul battles with traffic congestion
CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap



PAKISTAN: Evacuation of quake victims nears completion

The evacuation of those affected by last week's moderate earthquake in
northern Pakistan is nearing completion. In one of the most difficult and
largest relief operations undertaken by Pakistani army helicopters, over
2,000 people were rescued and moved to safer locations. "The evacuation is
practically completed," Jehangir Khan, the government joint secretary
responsible for the northern areas, told IRIN on Monday in the Pakistani
capital, Islamabad. "Air evacuation has been terminated and relief goods
initially sent in are now being distributed." According to the most recent
figures, eleven people were killed and some 40 injured after a series of
three moderate earthquakes, ranging from 4.7 to 5.0 on the Richter scale
struck the area between 2 and 3 November.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30852&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=PAKISTAN

UZBEKISTAN: Focus on child health

Dilbar Mirzakarimova, awaits the vaccination of her two-month-old son in
the rural health centre of Kibraj District, some 15 km northwest of the
Uzbek capital, Tashkent. "The services are fine, we can access vaccination
almost at our doorstep," the 26-year-old mother of three told IRIN.
Mirzakarimova's only concern is access to more vaccinations preventing
further diseases. "They [the doctors] even come to my home to examine my
baby," she said. Sayara Zakirova, another visiting mother to the centre,
shared her views, but with some reservations. She is tired of sometimes
having to travel to Tashkent for further tests or treatment because the
health centres in Kibraj have only limited treatment and diagnostic
facilities.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30873&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=UZBEKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: University clashes leave four dead

Kabul University reopened on Wednesday following two days of violence
between students and police in the Afghan capital. As many as four people
were killed and scores injured after students took to the streets to
protest against inadequate facilities at the university. "Conditions at
the university are poor, and this was the reaction," Nangialai Barakzai, a
21-year-old literature student told IRIN. "Students are increasingly
becoming frustrated at the lack of resources here - particularly in the
dormitories, where there is no electricity or water."

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30889&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN


AFGHANISTAN: Kabul battles with traffic congestion

Standing in a sea of honking cars and clouds of exhaust, 41-year-old
traffic officer, Sale Mehmed is bemused by all the congestion. Though
hardly rush hour, the 20-year veteran of Lotas Square in the Afghan
capital, Kabul says traffic has never been worse. "Where did all these
cars come from?" he asked IRIN. Good question. According to the Afghan
national department of traffic, there are more than 128,000 vehicles
registered in Kabul alone, including 54,493 private vehicles, 27,853
trucks, 26,000 taxis, 17,154 private buses, as well as over 4,000
motorcycles and scooters. In a city of two million, with just a basic road
network and few car parks, that's a lot.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30916&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN

CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap

Human rights issues were very much in focus this week in Central Asia.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the outskirts of the Kyrgyz capital
Bishkek on Thursday, demanding the resignation of the country's president.
The group wants to see the prosecution of officials responsible for the
violent break-up of a demonstration last spring. They also demanded that
their candidate for parliament be permitted to compete in elections. The
protest was the latest in a series sparked by the police killing of five
demonstrators in March in the impoverished southern region of Aksu. The
incident was the first political violence in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, which
is hosting US and other troops taking part in anti-terror operation in
nearby Afghanistan.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30930&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=CENTRAL_ASIA


IRIN-Asia
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Email: IrinAsia@irin.org.pk

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