DUBAI, 3 December 2007 (IRIN) - CONTENTS:

AFGHANISTAN: Kabul facing "unregulated" urbanisation AFGHANISTAN: Children increasingly affected by conflict AFGHANISTAN: Swiss aid to continue despite military withdrawal AFGHANISTAN: Red Crescent calls for closer cooperation with UN, donors BANGLADESH: Top military official criticises cyclone relief distribution BANGLADESH: Concern over diarrhoea outbreak remains in cyclone-hit areas NEPAL: It's okay to talk about sex on the radio NEPAL: Rising communal tensions fuelling displacement - rights activists PAKISTAN: Twice-displaced still waiting for government help PHILIPPINES: Unprecedented typhoon preparedness almost certainly saved lives SRI LANKA: "Groundless" allegations could threaten aid work - UN official

AFGHANISTAN: Kabul facing "unregulated" urbanisation

Kabul is the victim of a "rapid, unregulated and unequal" urbanisation, according to Yusuf Pashtun, the minister of urban development, and Pietro Calogero, a PhD researcher on urban development at the University of California.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75508

AFGHANISTAN: Children increasingly affected by conflict

Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) estimates that over 1,400 Afghan civilians have lost their lives and hundreds of others have been wounded in armed hostilities, aerial strikes, suicide attacks and improvised explosions in the past 11 months. Children are believed to be among the main victims.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75530

AFGHANISTAN: Swiss aid to continue despite military withdrawal

Switzerland will maintain its humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan despite a decision by Bern to pull out its two army officers in northern Afghanistan by March 2008.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75554

AFGHANISTAN: Red Crescent calls for closer cooperation with UN, donors

The growing humanitarian needs of Afghans must come ahead of political and strategic priorities and the UN and other international donors ought to "better recognise" the pivotal role of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) when dealing with humanitarian emergencies in Afghanistan, Fatima Gailani, president of the ARCS, told IRIN on 29 November.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75581

BANGLADESH: Top military official criticises cyclone relief distribution

A senior member of Bangladesh's military has criticised relief efforts for victims of Cylone Sidr, citing poor coordination and mismanagement in the distribution of relief supplies.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75501

BANGLADESH: Concern over diarrhoea outbreak remains in cyclone-hit areas

Diarrhoea continues to remain a source of concern in cyclone-affected parts of southern Bangladesh, with private TV channels showing patients receiving intravenous saline fluid in the districts of Borguna, Patuakhali and Bagerhat.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75545

NEPAL: It's okay to talk about sex on the radio

Nepalese are supposed to be too shy to talk about sex, but judging by the popularity of a groundbreaking radio show, Saathi Sanga Manka Kura ('Chatting With My Friend'), they don't mind hearing about the subject.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75568

NEPAL: Rising communal tensions fuelling displacement - rights activists

Nepal's human rights workers are concerned at the increasing number of displaced families in the country's Terai region where ethnic tension between the Madhesi and Pahade communities is rising, activists told IRIN on 29 November.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75573

PAKISTAN: Twice-displaced still waiting for government help

Quake victims who once lived along the line of control (LoC) separating Pakistani- and Indian-administered Kashmir - displaced first by political tension and again by the 2005 earthquake - have appealed to the government for assistance.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75315

PHILIPPINES: Unprecedented typhoon preparedness almost certainly saved lives

With the devastation of last year's Typhoon Reming (international code name: Durian) still fresh in their minds, the people of Bicol Region, central Philippines, quickly headed for evacuation centres last week when word came that another potential super typhoon was headed their way.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75577

SRI LANKA: "Groundless" allegations could threaten aid work - UN official

"Groundless public accusations can seriously compromise our ability to carry out humanitarian and development work and are also putting the safety and security of UN staff and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners at risk," Neil Buhne, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sri Lanka, said in a recent statement released by the UN Inter Agency Standing Committee (ISAC) country team.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75543

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