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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Fax: +92-51-2211 450 
e-mail: irin@irin.org.pk


Central Asia
IRIN-CAS Weekly Round-up 147
17 - 23 January 2004


CONTENTS:

IRAN: Death toll from Bam quake nears 45,000
IRAN: Respiratory infections a growing problem for Bam survivors
IRAN: Focus on Bam survivors still living amidst rubble
AFGHANISTAN: Floods displace at least a thousand families around Heart
AFGHANISTAN/IRAN: Destitute Afghan refugees streaming out of stricken Bam
PAKISTAN: Interview with head of grass roots finance NGO
PAKISTAN: Interview with leading female provincial parliamentarian
KYRGYZSTAN: Meningitis on the rise, say health officials
KYRGYZSTAN: EU to boost drug control, poverty alleviation efforts
KYRGYZSTAN: NGOs concerned about new media registration
UZBEKISTAN: IWPR wrestles with accreditation
UZBEKISTAN: Focus on winter power shortages
CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly News Wrap


IRAN: Death toll from Bam quake nears 45,000

The death toll from last month's devastating earthquake in the ancient
Iranian city of Bam may ultimately reach 45,000, officials told IRIN on
Monday, making it the country's worst recorded disaster ever.

Full copy of the report



IRAN: Respiratory infections a growing problem for Bam survivors

Although communicable diseases have not been widespread in the
southeastern Iranian city of Bam, many survivors of the quake that struck
nearly four weeks ago and killed at least 40,000, are suffering from
respiratory infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
a total of 1,090 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection have been reported
recently in Bam.

Full copy of the report



IRAN: Focus on Bam survivors still living amidst rubble

More than three weeks after last month's devastating earthquake struck the
southeastern Iranian city of Bam - killing more than 40,000 people - many
affected people remain reluctant to move to camps, concerned at losing
their property. Others who want to move into the tented cities complain of
lack of access. Most of the homeless still live in tents not far from
their fully or partially collapsed houses, mainly on the streets of the
ancient city.

Full copy of the report



AFGHANISTAN: Floods displace at least a thousand families around Herat
More than a thousand families have been displaced and many residential
areas and agricultural fields affected after severe rainfall and flooding
in the western province of Herat. According to the Afghan Red Crescent
Society (ARCS) Thursday’s flooding affected Guzara district and some parts
of Herat city, the provincial capital. In addition to the families that
lost their homes, thousands of acres of agricultural land have been
completely destroyed.

Full copy of the report



AFGHANISTAN: Destitute Afghan refugees streaming out of stricken Bam

Another convoy of desperate Afghan refugees who survived the Bam
earthquake was scheduled to leave the stricken city on Tuesday, an
official from the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) told IRIN. Afghans suffered disproportionately in the quake,
because they lived in the poorest parts of the city.

Full copy of the report



PAKISTAN: Interview with head of grass roots finance NGO

Established in 1996 as a research project to replicate the outstanding
success of Bangladesh's Grameen Bank, the Kashf Foundation - a non-profit
organisation that provides credit, financial services and training to help
poor rural and urban women in Pakistan - has blossomed into a service that
has over 60,000 clients and a network of 30 branches with 250 staff
members. Sadaffe Abid, Kashf's Chief Operating Officer, spoke to IRIN at
the organisation's head office in Lahore.


http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39093&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=PAKISTAN


PAKISTAN: Interview with leading female provincial parliamentarian

Elected to a "reserved" seat for women in Pakistan's Punjab provincial
assembly, Humaira Awais Shahid, still only in her early thirties, has
campaigned relentlessly for legislation to be passed, banning the rural
custom of "vinni" where women of any age are bartered in exchange for
crimes committed by family members.

Full copy of the report



KYRGYZSTAN: Meningitis on the rise, say health officials

An outbreak of meningitis has been registered in northern Kyrgyzstan,
including the capital, Bishkek, where the number of cases is said to be
highest in the country. "In Kyrgyzstan 160 cases of meningitis have been
registered, of which 70 percent are in Bishkek and 24 cases in [northern]
Chuy valley, possibly due to the density of population and closer
interaction of people. In other regions there are only 1-2 cases. Mostly
children", Inna Chernova, chief specialist at the Kyrgyz health ministry's
department of epidemiological inspection told IRIN in Bishkek.

Full copy of the report



KYRGYZSTAN: NGOs concerned about new media registration

Internews, an international media watchdog supporting independent media in
emerging democracies, along with Kyrgyz NGOs, is concerned over recent
government efforts to change the registration process for media outlets.

Full copy of the report



KYRGYZSTAN: EU to boost drug control, poverty alleviation efforts

The European Union (EU) is set to enhance drug control and poverty
alleviation operations in the mountainous state of Kyrgyzstan, a country
of five million struggling with both regional issues since gaining
independence in 1991.

Full copy of the report



UZBEKISTAN: IWPR wrestles with accreditation

Work by the critically acclaimed Institute for War and Peace Reporting
(IWFP) in Uzbekistan may be under threat, given Tashkent's adamant refusal
to renew the media organisation's press credentials. The international
award-winning service, known for its investigative journalism, is read by
hundreds of thousands of people daily worldwide.

Full copy of the report



UZBEKISTAN: Focus on winter power shortages

Although Uzbekistan is the world’s eighth largest producer of natural gas,
many of its people are forced to sit out the sub-zero winter months with
little or no power, leading to serious health problems, like tuberculosis
asthma and influenza. Many families risk death and serious injury by
constructing their own highly dangerous heating systems.


CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap

Authorities have blamed pilot error for the crash of an Uzbek Airlines
plane on 13 January. The Russian-made Yak-40, on a domestic flight from
the southern Uzbek town of Termez, crashed as it attempted to land in the
Uzbek capital Tashkent, killing all 37 passengers and crew, including UN
resident coordinator in the country, Richard Conroy. According to media
reports this week, an unnamed source on the commission set up to
investigate the crash told Russian news agencies on Saturday that the crew
of the plane had tried in vain to gain height just before impact.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39096&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=CENTRAL_ASIA


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