DUBAI, 22 January (IRIN) - AFGHANISTAN: Children work to support families CENTRAL ASIA: Labour migrants face bleak future in Russia CENTRAL ASIA: Ashgabat and Tashkent worst human rights offenders NEPAL: Humanitarian challenges remain despite Maoists entering parliament NEPAL: Unexploded ordnance threatens new freedom PAKISTAN: Quake survivors battle elements PAKISTAN: UN cautions on Afghan refugee camp closures PAKISTAN: Sharp increase in polio cases TURKMENISTAN: Unrest leaves 23 political prisoners dead UZBEKISTAN: Governments toughens media regulations

AFGHANISTAN: Children work to support families Thousands of children work on the streets of the Afghan capital, Kabul, to help their households through the harsh winter. There are no accurate figures on how many children work in Kabul but aid workers fear the number is rising. Some estimates put the number at about 37,000. A survey released by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in May 2006 revealed that 60 percent of families surveyed stated that almost half their children were involved in some kind of labour.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57080 and SelectRegion=Asia and SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN

CENTRAL ASIA: Labour migrants face bleak future

Hundreds of thousands of Central Asian labour migrants in Russia face tough new immigration rules that came into effect on Monday 15 January. The new rules, which set a quota of six million foreign workers for 2007, call for stricter checks on the estimated 10 to 12 million foreigners who are already working in Russia, most of them illegally. The changes are intended to prevent migrant workers from taking jobs in the retail trade sector, especially selling pharmaceuticals and alcohol. According to estimates, the number of Central Asians working in Russia is about two million and analysts are concerned that if large numbers return home, it could lead to increasing unemployment and tensions in their respective nations.

CENTRAL ASIA: Ashgabat and Tashkent worst human rights offenders

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are among the worst offenders on human rights and democratic practices, according to a new report by Freedom House, an American nongovernmental agency. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - along with North Korea, Cuba and Libya – rated lowest in the Freedom in the World 2007 report for political rights and civil liberties released on 17 January. Political opposition is not allowed in the two former Soviet republics, independent media does not exist in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan suppresses any dissent.

NEPAL: Humanitarian challenges remain despite Maoists entering parliament

Local health and development workers say despite the Maoists joining Nepal's political arena, humanitarian work on the ground remains difficult due to problems of access. Healthcare and food insecurity, especially in Nepal's mountainous regions, are among the major concerns for aid workers. The conflict between the Nepalese state and Maoist insurgents severely affected the humanitarian activities in a country where about 31 percent of people still survive on less than US$1 a day.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57085 and SelectRegion=Asia and SelectCountry=NEPAL

NEPAL: Unexploded ordnance threatens new freedom

Aid workers in Nepal warn that the increased freedom of movement given to people under the 2006 peace deal signed with the Maoists could put peoples' lives at risk as mines and unexploded ordnance have not been cleared. During the decade-long conflict that ended last year, civilians were not allowed to move freely due to restrictions enforced by security forces and the danger of being caught in battles between the Nepalese Army and the Maoists. In 2006, there were about 86 explosions, causing 146 casualties, from landmines laid by government forces, and explosive devices planted by the Maoists, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This was an 80 percent increase on incidents in 2005.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57132 and SelectRegion=Asia,%20 and SelectCountry=Nepal

PAKISTAN: Quake survivors battle elements

Fifteen months after a powerful earthquake ripped through northern Pakistan, many survivors in mountainous areas still lack permanent shelter and are forced to leave the area to escape sub-zero temperatures. "Our tents from last year collapsed after a few snow spells in early December. We had no option but to move down [from a height of more than 5,000ft] to a valley with our families and livestock," said Amjad Zaman, a quake survivor at a temporary camp for survivors.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57081 and SelectRegion=Asia and SelectCountry=PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN: UN cautions on Afghan refugee camp closures

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over a decision by Pakistan's government to close four Afghan refugee camps in the border areas due to security concerns. The move follows criticism that Islamabad had not been doing enough to prevent cross-border infiltrations along the country's porous 2,500km border with Afghanistan. Pakistan says the camps are being used by elements not interested in peace and stability in either country. According to UNHCR, Pakistan hosts 2.6 million Afghans, half of whom live in agency-administered camps, while the rest live in urban and rural settlements across the country. The four Afghan refugee facilities due to be closed include two in Pakistan's southern Balochistan province and another two in North West Frontier Province, home to almost 250,000 Afghans.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57095 and SelectRegion=Asia,%20 and SelectCountry=Pakistan

PAKISTAN: Sharp increase in polio cases

Cases of polio, a debilitating disease that mainly strikes children, increased by 30 percent in Pakistan in 2006, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The increase is believed to be linked to high population movements between border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, aid workers say. More than 1.7 million children younger than five cross the border annually. Of 39 cases reported in 2006, 15 were in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, 10 in southwestern Balochistan, 12 in Sindh and two in eastern Punjab. Pakistan and Afghanistan, with India and Nigeria, are polio-endemic countries.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57114 and SelectRegion=Asia,%20 and SelectCountry=Pakistan

TURKMENISTAN: International observers to monitor elections for the first time

For the first time, international observers will be allowed to monitor the 11 February presidential elections in Turkmenistan, AP reported on Sunday. The poll will decide who replaces long-ruling autocratic President Saparmurat Niyazov, who died last month. Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said on Saturday that election observers from Russia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and others would be invited. The OSCE, a trans-Atlantic democracy and security body that monitors elections, has noted that this will be Turkmenistan's first presidential election with more than one candidate - but stated in a recent report that the development is "no guarantee for a competitive election".

TURKMENISTAN: Unrest in a political prison leaves 23 people dead

A Turkmen human rights group said on Wednesday that 23 people died when police tried to stop a riot at the Ovadan-Depe prison, located in the Karakum desert. The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation, based in Bulgaria, said 23 inmates died when prison staff used force to quell the riot by political prisoners in the wake of President Saparmurat Niyazov's death last month. Immediately after Niyazov's death on 21 December, Turkmen human rights and political groups called on the government to release all prisoners of conscience and conduct an unbiased retrial of all appeals concerning unfair pre-trial proceedings and convictions.

UZBEKISTAN: Government toughens media regulations

Uzbekistan reportedly adopted a new stricter media law, putting greater restrictions on the media in the county. Under the new law, which became effective on 16 January, foreign media should be 'objective' in its reporting. In addition, coverage of trials and criminal investigations is not allowed without special authorisation, a move seen by press freedom activists as another blow for almost non-existent independent media in the Central Asian nation.

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