News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

KANDAHAR - The Kandahar International Airport has made 60 per cent progress in the last one year and the custom revenues have increased “significantly”, said Ahmadullah Faizi, the head of the Kandahar International Airport, on 19 November. “In the last one year, the income from the custom revenues…

KABUL - Despite a 36 per cent drop in opium production in Afghanistan this year, the country saw 18 per cent rise in the area where the illicit crops were cultivated, according to a report released today by the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics (MCN) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime…

GARDEZ - A private FM radio station called “Awoshtoon” officially started transmission on 20 November in Gardez city, the provincial capital of Paktya province. Broadcasting manager of the Awoshtoon Radio 88.8 MHz, Ihsanullah Mahjoor, said the radio station would air programmes for 12 hours a day on…

BALKH - The Government of Denmark pledged US$ 100 million (5.2 billion Afs) in aid to Afghanistan over the next five years, a minister of Denmark who is visiting Afghanistan said in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, yesterday. Christian Friis Bach, the Danish Minister for…

KABUL - Fatima was 14 when she was married to a man who had already divorced twice. After the marriage, she was physically and mentally tortured for the next 16 years by her husband and in-laws until she divorced. At the time of divorce, Fatima had three daughters and a son. The husband took the son…

KABUL - Ashura rituals were held across Afghanistan yesterday and passed peacefully, according to local media reports. Hundreds of people turned out to donate blood in hospitals in Kandahar and Faryab provinces to mark the holy day. The RTA Kandahar reported that the Shia mourners donated 125 litres…

NANGAHAR – The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has started distribution of winter assistance to returnee families in four provinces in Afghanistan’s east: Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan. A total of 4,000 “eligible” returnee families who returned to the country in 2010, 2011 and 2012 will receive…

KABUL - United Nations in Afghanistan marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women today by screening a UNAMA-produced video documentary amidst a ceremony in the capital, Kabul, and by organizing radio and television round-tables in different parts of the country. Click…

PAKTYA - To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, tribal elders, civil society members and provincial officials promised yesterday to join hands for eliminating violence against women in Paktya province. “Comparing to the past years, tremendous changes have…

NEWYORK - The United Nations General Assembly adopted a “consensus resolution” in New York yesterday reaffirming the continued long-term support of the international community for Afghanistan’s peace, reconciliation and development processes. Summary of the General Assembly meeting on the situation…

KANDAHAR - With the start of the 16 days global campaign for elimination of violence against women on 25 November, there have been a number of activities and campaigns being organized across Afghanistan. With Afghanistan witnessing some worst forms of violence meted out to women – including underage…

KABUL - A senior United Nations official today called on the international community to step up its humanitarian support for Afghanistan to sustain the progress made so far in the country where thousands have suffered through 34 years of conflict and poverty. ( UN News Centre) “It is clear that the…