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

Tel: +92-51-2211451 Ext 484 
Fax: +92-51-2211 450 
e-mail: irin@irin.org.pk


Asia
IRIN-AS Weekly Round-Up 202
10 - 16 November 2008


CONTENTS:

AFGHANISTAN: Unexploded ordnance poses threat to returnees
AFGHANISTAN: Government vows to keep roads open in winter
AFGHANISTAN: Lottery income treats child heart defects
BANGLADESH: Cyclone challenges remain
INDONESIA: Tsunami early warning system launched
KYRGYZSTAN: Landslides threaten radioactive waste dumps
LAOS: Breeding livestock to nurture livelihoods
MYANMAR: Shortage of seedlings holds back mangrove recovery
NEPAL: Bhutanese refugees find new life beyond the camps
PAKISTAN: Quetta residents fearful of further tremors
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Health services fail to cope with cancer increase
PHILIPPINES: More suffering, displacement feared in Mindanao before Arroyo term ends, say analysts
PHILIPPINES: Flower power
SRI LANKA: Smooth resettlement of IDPs in east


AFGHANISTAN: Unexploded ordnance poses threat to returnees

Masto Khan's two children died and another was seriously injured in an 
explosion at a returnees' settlement in Afghanistan in October. He and 
his family had come there, after living in exile in Pakistan for six 
years.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81283


AFGHANISTAN: Government vows to keep roads open in winter

The Afghan government has said it will keep all main and secondary roads 
open this winter, and has earmarked about US$2.5 million for two 
ministries to clear snow and flood debris from over 10,000 roads.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81400


AFGHANISTAN: Lottery income treats child heart defects

Income from a national lottery run by the Afghan Red Crescent Society 
(ARCS) has covered the treatment expenses of 26 poor children who were 
suffering from congenital heart defects over the past two years, the NGO 
said.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81373


BANGLADESH: Cyclone challenges remain

One year after a devastating cyclone hit south-western Bangladesh, huge 
challenges remain. "Communities still need urgent help - both to recover 
from the impact of Sidr, and to be able to prepare for future storms, 
floods or cyclones," said Heather Blackwell, Bangladesh-Oxfam country 
director.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81466


INDONESIA: Tsunami early warning system launched

The 11 November launch in Jakarta of the Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning 
System (InaTEWS) was welcome news throughout the archipelago, but 
perhaps most of all in Aceh.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81431


KYRGYZSTAN: Landslides threaten radioactive waste dumps

Residents of the village of Min-Kush in Naryn Province, central 
Kyrgyzstan, are worried that a mudslide could destroy a nearby 
radioactive waste dump and contaminate the local river.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81398


LAOS: Breeding livestock to nurture livelihoods

Despite being a predominantly agrarian country, the Lao PDR (Laos) has 
insufficient livestock to meet the increasing demand of its wealthier 
neighbours - Thailand, China and Vietnam - for live animals and meat, 
according to a recent study.*

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81456


MYANMAR: Shortage of seedlings holds back mangrove recovery

A shortage of seedlings is undermining the restoration of mangrove 
forests along the southern coast, six months after Cyclone Nargis hit 
Myanmar, environmentalists told IRIN in Yangon.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81449


NEPAL: Bhutanese refugees find new life beyond the camps

Thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal have been successfully 
resettled in seven countries, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, 
Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Canada, according to the UN Refugee 
Agency (UNHCR).

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81374


PAKISTAN: Quetta residents fearful of further tremors

At least 1,000 aftershocks have hit Quetta, capital of Balochistan, and 
the nearby town of Ziarat since the earthquake of 29 October. Around 300 
of the jolts have measured above four on the Richter scale, according to 
Pakistan's Met Office.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81378


PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Health services fail to cope with cancer increase

More and more families are pooling funds to seek treatment overseas as 
the country witnesses a steep rise in cancer cases, which cannot be 
treated locally as facilities are insufficient.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81396


PHILIPPINES: More suffering, displacement feared in Mindanao before 
Arroyo term ends, say analysts

Muslim separatist rebels are expected to step up guerrilla attacks 
against government and civilian targets in the coming months, leading to 
more displacement and suffering on the southern island of Mindanao, 
analysts warned.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81394


PHILIPPINES: Flower power

Thanks to a local invention, lakeshore communities in the Philippines 
will soon begin using water hyacinths as an alternative source of fuel 
and organic fertiliser.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81470


SRI LANKA: Smooth resettlement of IDPs in east

More than 150,000 internally displaced persons have returned to their 
former villages in the east over the past year, according to the UN 
Refugee Agency.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81419[END]


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
.  Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
.                              guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Asia                           www.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/casia