News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

4 February 2011 - The annual state tree planting programme is kicking off in the western province of Herat to expand green areas ahead of the Afghan New Year on March 21. “One million saplings and trees will be planted with the locals’ support,” Faghir Ahmad Bayangar, the provincial director of the…

5 February 2011 - Dozens of media and government officials in the central province of Dai Kundi met this week to discuss how best to relay information about government policies and projects to local residents and across the country. “I hope that after this workshop, the media will be more pro-active…

6 February 2011 - More than 300 children showed off their photos and drawings, performed plays with puppets, climbed a six meter high wall and zipped around on skateboards at an exhibition in Kabul to show how Afghan youth perceive their country and what they hope for the future. Included in the…

8 February 2011 - Bamyan is Afghanistan's famous tourist site for archeological monuments and beautiful landscape, now the local authorities hope the introduction of winter sports can draw thousands of international tourists and domestic sightseers during what was once thought to be an off-season…

By Radhika Coomaraswamy, Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict 8 February 2011 - As we landed in Kabul, we were informed that Hamida Barmaki, her four children and husband had been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a supermarket in the centre of town…

9 February 2011 - All parties in Afghanistan should do more to protect children in armed conflict: Taliban insurgents must stop recruiting child soldiers or using them as suicide bombers, while the government must clamp down on the recruitment and/or sexual exploitation of boys by pro-government…

KABUL - The Government of Afghanistan today took a step towards mitigating climate change by starting work on its first ever country report documenting emissions and removals of greenhouse gases within the United Nations framework. The Initial National Communication (INC) outlines steps taken by…

12 February 2011 - Afghan and United Nations officials are working to curb child labour in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces, where young breadwinners remain common despite regulations. Ten-year-old Ajmal (not his real name) sells plastic bags from morning to evening in Jalalabad city to cover part of…

14 February 2011 - Greater efforts are needed to end grave violations against children in Afghanistan, including their use as child soldiers, sexual violence, killing and maiming, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report to the Security Council. UN News Centre story In his report on…

14 February 2011 - Flash floods and heavy snowfall killed 25 people and damaged up to 3,000 houses in different parts of Afghanistan over the past two weeks, according to government officials. IRIN story At least 20 people died and 53 have been injured in Parwan, Herat, Wardak and Daykundi provinces…

KABUL - UNAMA and the international community reconfirm their commitment to work with the Afghan Government and the Afghan people to promote principles of a democratic state including rule of law, good governance, political, civil and human rights in Afghanistan. UNAMA and the international…

17 February 2011 - Girls can attend separate schools provided students and teachers wear the hijab, and the curriculum and education environment are in keeping with religious and cultural values, Taliban commanders have told elders in southern Afghanistan. IRIN story “The Taliban have told us that…