Nita Bhalla
Nita Bhalla covers South Asia for AlertNet. She is based in New Delhi.
India's planned assault on Maoists troubles European aid body
Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - India's plans to launch a major offensive against Maoist rebels in the country's heartlands could jeopardise much-needed humanitarian operations in the impoverished area, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The government has signalled that an assault against insurgents is imminent in the central state of Chhattisgarh -- the epicentre of violence between Maoist fighters, security forces and pro-government militias since 2005.
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Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - India's plans to launch a major offensive against Maoist rebels in the country's heartlands could jeopardise much-needed humanitarian operations in the impoverished area, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The government has signalled that an assault against insurgents is imminent in the central state of Chhattisgarh -- the epicentre of violence between Maoist fighters, security forces and pro-government militias since 2005.
...
Afghans say "more effective aid" needed to halt decades of violence - Oxfam
Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - Afghans say foreign donors must commit and deliver "more effective aid" if the country is to pull itself out of poverty and end more than three decades of violence, Oxfam International said in a report on Wednesday.
"The Cost of War" - a survey based on interviews with over 700 people across 14 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces - found that most Afghans felt poverty, unemployment and corruption were the main drivers of conflict in the country since 1978.
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Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - Afghans say foreign donors must commit and deliver "more effective aid" if the country is to pull itself out of poverty and end more than three decades of violence, Oxfam International said in a report on Wednesday.
"The Cost of War" - a survey based on interviews with over 700 people across 14 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces - found that most Afghans felt poverty, unemployment and corruption were the main drivers of conflict in the country since 1978.
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South Asia told to fight dire toddler malnutrition
Author: Nita Bhalla
By Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - South Asian nations must promote breastfeeding and focus on better nutrition for under two-year-olds in order to reverse the worst rates of chronically undernourished children in the world, the U.N. said on Wednesday.
According to a new report by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than half of the world's 155 million chronically undernourished under fives are in South Asia.
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Author: Nita Bhalla
By Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - South Asian nations must promote breastfeeding and focus on better nutrition for under two-year-olds in order to reverse the worst rates of chronically undernourished children in the world, the U.N. said on Wednesday.
According to a new report by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than half of the world's 155 million chronically undernourished under fives are in South Asia.
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Aid groups vow to stay in Afghanistan despite UN pulling out expat staff
Author: Nita Bhalla
By Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - A U.N. decision to temporarily relocate more than half its expatriate staff following a deadly attack in Afghanistan has hurt morale among aid groups working there but not enough for any of them to follow suit.
Aid agencies said last month's Taliban attack which killed six U.N. staff in Kabul had forced an extensive security review with many of them considering employing more guards in field
offices or using alternative routes for aid delivery. However, they said they had no intention of pulling out staff.
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Author: Nita Bhalla
By Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - A U.N. decision to temporarily relocate more than half its expatriate staff following a deadly attack in Afghanistan has hurt morale among aid groups working there but not enough for any of them to follow suit.
Aid agencies said last month's Taliban attack which killed six U.N. staff in Kabul had forced an extensive security review with many of them considering employing more guards in field
offices or using alternative routes for aid delivery. However, they said they had no intention of pulling out staff.
...
Afghan Red Crescent angry after NATO-led forces storm compound
Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) expressed anger on Tuesday at NATO-led troops who used explosives to storm a Red Crescent compound and temporarily detain two aid workers. Saleem Wardak, manager of the media division of the ARCS, said NATO-led forces attacked their office in Qalat in the southern province of Zabul during a military operation against Taliban insurgents on Friday night. ...
Next entries
Author: Nita Bhalla
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) - The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) expressed anger on Tuesday at NATO-led troops who used explosives to storm a Red Crescent compound and temporarily detain two aid workers. Saleem Wardak, manager of the media division of the ARCS, said NATO-led forces attacked their office in Qalat in the southern province of Zabul during a military operation against Taliban insurgents on Friday night. ...
