Afghan

Global help needed for Afghanistan to overcome 'economy of opium,' UN says

3 February 2003
In order to secure lasting recovery in Afghanistan, global actors must work with the new Government to help the people of the country gain an advantage over the decades old "economy of opium," the top United Nations anti-drug official said today in New York.
Amb. Lakhdar Brahimi briefs the Council

Amid 'remarkable' gains, challenges persist in Afghanistan, Security Council told

31 January 2003
The top United Nations envoy for Afghanistan told the Security Council today that while impressive gains had been made over the past year, the country still faced tough challenges and the peace process was "far from secure" amid worrying reports that support for the remnants of the Taliban might be growing in some areas.

UN Afghan mission probes reported ban of male teachers in girls' schools

30 January 2003
Following reports that male teachers have been banned from teaching girls in Afghanistan's Herat Province, the United Nations mission has sent a senior human rights adviser to that community to look into the issue of girls' education.

Environmental degradation major stumbling block for Afghanistan’s recovery – UN

29 January 2003
Two decades of warfare in Afghanistan have degraded the environment to the extent it now presents a major stumbling block for the country's reconstruction efforts, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says in a report released today.

UNESCO launches major literacy campaign in Afghanistan

28 January 2003
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government of Afghanistan today launched a major project to boost reading and writing throughout the country, which suffers one of the world's lowest literacy rates.

Afghan judicial body joins forces with UN agency to promote legal reform

27 January 2003
With education initiatives and disarmament programmes already showing promise in Afghanistan, the country's judicial task force has now joined with the United Nations lead development agency to tackle legal reform.

Disarmament process stalled in northern Afghanistan, UN mission says

23 January 2003
Weapons collection in northern Afghanistan has stalled due to disagreements between two key factions assisting the multi-party force monitoring the demobilization programme, according to the United Nations mission in the country.

UN agency takes over food distribution to Afghan refugees in Pakistan

17 January 2003
Signalling what may be a major push to streamline humanitarian aid delivery schemes worldwide, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today took over from the UN's refugee agency responsibility for providing food to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Afghanistan: UN scrambling to treat deadly outbreak of whooping cough

13 January 2003
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is scrambling to treat an outbreak of whooping cough in Afghanistan, which has already claimed the lives to two children in a village near the Tajik border.

First draft of new Afghan constitution to be ready by March, UN says

13 January 2003
In another sign that Afghanistan is on the road to recovery, the country's leaders have set in motion a broad consultative process aimed at drafting the preliminary elements of a new constitution by March, the United Nations mission said in Kabul.