Afghan

9,000 Afghans return from Pakistan in March in UN repatriation programme

31 March 2006
Nearly 9,000 Afghan refugees have gone home in the first month of the final year of the United Nations-assisted repatriation programme from Pakistan, citing jobs and shelter as key factors influencing their decision in an operation that is expected to cover some 400,000 by the end of 2006.

Afghan convert to Christianity requests asylum, UN mission says

27 March 2006
An Afghan charged with converting from Islam to Christianity in a court case that threatened to strain the war-torn country’s relations with the international community has asked for asylum in another country, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported today.

Security Council extends UN mission in Afghanistan for one more year

23 March 2006
The United Nations Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the four year-old United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which expires 24 March, for an additional 12 months in order to continue assisting the Afghan leadership during the next phase of rebuilding the country.

Afghanistan: UNICEF official calls for special focus on girls’ education

23 March 2006
With a women’s literacy rate of just 14 per cent in Afghanistan, a senior United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official has called on all Afghan families to give priority to education for the sake of long-term progress, with a special focus on girls who have either been prevented or discouraged from attending school.

UN envoy deeply concerned over Afghan charged for converting to Christianity

22 March 2006
The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today voiced “great concern” for an Afghan apparently charged in court for converting from Islam to Christianity in a case that could strain the war-torn country’s relations with the international community.

UNICEF official warns of continuing threats to Afghan women and children

21 March 2006
With Afghanistan’s new school year officially beginning tomorrow, a senior United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official has warned of a continued threat facing Afghan women and children from high rates of child and maternal mortality, low levels of school enrolment and neglect of children’s fundamental rights.

Senior UNICEF official visits Afghanistan to help meet needs of women, children

20 March 2006
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Executive Director Rima Salah has begun a week-long visit to Afghanistan in a bid to draw global attention to the progress being made for the country’s women and children while highlighting unmet needs in areas of health, education and protection.
Tom Koenigs

Government in Afghanistan must reach local communities, UN envoy says

14 March 2006
Against a backdrop of rising terrorism and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan, the top United Nations envoy to the country today said that the Kabul Government must, with international help, extend its reach to local communities.

UN-backed repatriation programme for Afghan refugees in Iran extended

13 March 2006
The United Nations-backed voluntary repatriation programme for Afghan refugees from Iran, which has already seen the return of some 1.4 million people since its inception in 2002, has been extended for another year for the nearly 1 million Afghans still remaining in the war-torn country’s western neighbour.

Annan recommends UN Afghan mission be extended to help with challenges

10 March 2006
Citing enormous security, human rights and other challenges faced by Afghanistan as it struggles to rebuild its shattered society, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that the UN mission in the impoverished country should be extended.