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Asia
IRIN-AS Weekly Round-Up 97
3 - 10 November 2006


CONTENTS:

PAKISTAN: Quake reconstruction delayed by land problems - experts
PAKISTAN: Quake orphans and widows lose safe haven
PAKISTAN: Plans to accelerate pace of Afghan registration
NEPAL: Security still a challenge despite peace deal - leaders
NEPAL: Landmark peace agreement reached
AFGHANISTAN: Tribal elders reopening southern schools
AFGHANISTAN: Lethal floods strike the east
CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap


PAKISTAN: Quake reconstruction delayed by land problems - experts

The reconstruction of health and educational infrastructure in 
Pakistan's northern earthquake-affected zone is being delayed partly due 
to problems in allocating land to build new facilities, an international 
aid agency has said. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 
had been scheduled to start the construction of some 100 primary schools 
and 13 Basic Health Units (BHUs) in the Battagram district of Pakistan's 
North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in October.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56310&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=PAKISTAN


PAKISTAN: Quake orphans and widows lose safe haven

The sound of children playing, which till a few weeks ago could be heard 
all around the building housing the Ashiana shelter for women and 
children, has faded away. Home to orphaned quake victims, widows and the 
elderly over the past year, the Ashiana shelter was shut down in late 
October as a result of wrangling between officials of the government's 
Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) and the NGO which ran the operation.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56297&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=PAKISTAN


PAKISTAN: Plans to accelerate pace of Afghan registration

Pakistani authorities on Tuesday said they were trying to increase the 
pace of Afghan registration, while urging more Afghans to come forward 
for registration before the exercise ends on 31 December. "There have 
been difficulties regarding registration sites, mobile units, and in 
accessing the census data, which are under review. Now, there is a need 
to accelerate the process through better planning and management on 
behalf of all the involved partners, to get good results in the end," 
Sajid Hussain Chattha, Secretary of the Ministry of State and Frontier 
Regions (SAFRON), said at a press briefing in the Pakistani capital, 
Islamabad.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56280&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=PAKISTAN


NEPAL: Security still a challenge despite peace deal - leaders

With extortion, threats and intimidation still common in many parts of 
rural Nepal, security will remain a serious challenge for many months to 
come despite Wednesday's landmark peace deal, political leaders said on 
Thursday. "The Maoists have to create an environment free of fear for 
the people," said Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is also the 
chairman of Nepali Congress (NC), the country's largest party. He added 
that a secure environment is needed to make the elections for the 
constituent assembly, scheduled for June 2007, successful.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56311&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=NEPAL


NEPAL: Landmark peace agreement reached

Peace talks between Nepal's Maoist rebels and the interim government of 
seven national parties concluded on Wednesday morning after nearly five 
months of negotiations aimed at ending the decade-long armed conflict, 
which has killed over 14,000 people. "This is a historic moment for all 
of us but there are still huge challenges ahead of us," Maoist leader 
Prachanda said, speaking at a press conference in the capital after the 
talks.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56294&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=NEPAL


AFGHANISTAN: Tribal elders reopening southern schools

In an effort to reopen hundreds of schools, closed due to fear of 
attacks from insurgents in southern Afghanistan, local tribal elders in 
Helmand province have helped the government to open the doors of at 
least 20 schools in the past two weeks, local officials said on Tuesday.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56279&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN


AFGHANISTAN: Lethal floods strike the east

At least four people have been killed and five others are missing after 
flash floods, triggered by torrential rains, hit the eastern Afghan 
province of Nangarhar, the United Nations Assistance Mission in 
Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Friday.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56321&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN


CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap

Kyrgyzstan's fragile democracy was again tested this week when President 
Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a new constitution limiting his powers and 
providing more authority to the parliament. The document, approved by 
parliament on Wednesday, was an effort to stem mounting protests in the 
Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56322&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=CENTRAL_ASIA


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