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Asia
IRIN-AS Weekly Round-Up 96
28 October - 3 November 2006


CONTENTS:

AFGHANISTAN: Measles, tetanus and polio vaccination drive launched
AFGHANISTAN: Drought-stricken farmers appeal for urgent assistance
NEPAL: Press freedom challenges remain
NEPAL: Rebels extend ceasefire
PAKISTAN: Afghan refugees reluctant to participate in registration
PAKISTAN: Mixed reaction to proposed drug authority
PAKISTAN: UN helicopters back in quake zone
PAKISTAN: Winterisation of Kashmiri quake camps begins
PAKISTAN: New effort to check spread of dengue virus
KYRGYZSTAN: Opposition rally continues
CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap


AFGHANISTAN: Measles, tetanus and polio vaccination drive launched

Tens of thousands of children will be vaccinated against measles, tetanus 
and polio in southern parts of Afghanistan during a 10-day campaign 
launched on Wednesday by the Ministry of Public Health, with support from 
the United Nations Children~Rs Fund (UNICEF), the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and NGO partners.


AFGHANISTAN: Drought-stricken farmers appeal for urgent assistance

Farmers in the northwestern Afghan province of Faryab say they are 
desperate for help to survive the winter after the devastating drought 
that destroyed this yea r~Rs crops. Their calls come after last week~Rs 
appeal to donors from the government and from the United Nations 
Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) to provide urgent help for those 
in need.


NEPAL: Press freedom challenges remain

Despite a ceasefire and peace talks between Maoist rebels and the new 
interim government to end Nepal~Rs decade-long conflict, a new report says 
journalists in the Himalayan kingdom still face dangers and harassment.


NEPAL: Rebels extend ceasefire

Nepal~Rs Maoist rebels have extended their six-month ceasefire, which 
expired on Sunday, for another three months in an effort to allow the 
ongoing peace talks to conclude successfully. ~SThe ceasefire is aimed at 
creating a conducive environment for bringing the ongoing talks to a 
positive conclusive and announcing the date for elections to the 
constituent assembly,~T said Maoist leader Prachanda in a press statement 
on Sunday.


PAKISTAN: Afghan refugees reluctant to participate in registration

A programme to register Afghans living in Pakistan has been proceeding 
slowly due partly to confusion over the objectives of the exercise, United 
Nations officials acknowledged on Friday. The 10-week campaign, costing 
some US $6 million, is aimed at providing millions of Afghan exiles in 
Pakistan with identity cards valid for three years.


PAKISTAN: Mixed reaction to proposed drug authority

There has been a mixed reaction in Pakistan to a government decision to 
establish a national drug regulatory authority (DRA) to standardise the 
quality of medicines and streamline their registration. ~SHigh prices, 
open sale of spurious and counterfeit drugs, blatant violation of laws and 
widespread prevalence of unethical practices are all there.


PAKISTAN: UN helicopters back in quake zone

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is set to re-start 
helicopter operations across Pakistan~Rs northern quake-hit region on 
Sunday.


PAKISTAN: Winterisation of Kashmiri quake camps begins

Humanitarian aid agencies are improving tented camps holding over 30,000 
quake survivors in Pakistani-administered Kashmir for the forthcoming 
Himalayan winter. "The winterisation will be done through strengthening 
tents with wooden structures and a combination of plastic sheeting and 
corrugated iron sheets on the roofs," Margaret Vikki, head of the camp 
management team of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said in 
Muzzafarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, on Tuesday.


PAKISTAN: New effort to check spread of dengue virus

Pakistani health authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the spread 
of dengue fever, which has killed at least 30 and hospitalised thousands 
across the country since early September.


KYRGYZSTAN: Opposition rally continues

An opposition rally in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, continued to demand 
the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiev and Prime Minister Felix 
Kulov on Friday.


CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap

This week in Central Asia there were renewed signs of discontent in 
Kyrgyzstan, after meetings between members of the opposition and the 
government of President Kurmanbek Bakiev failed to reach agreement over 
reform. On Friday thousands of opposition supporters rallied for a second 
day in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, against Bakiev, following a dispute 
over proposed political reforms that would curtail the president~Rs power.


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