The Commando Bridge will provide easier access to areas around the city, including a bazaar, a school under construction and a nearby highway.

A rainstorm several months ago flooded the creek that the new bridge spans, making travel through the area difficult, and Afghan army officials approached coalition forces about the need for a bridge. The project was funded through the Commanders' Emergency Response

In brief

Programme summary

The security situation in the country has deteriorated steadily over the two years, leading to some decreased implementation rate of the programmes, and consequently support from the partners also declined over the two years in some areas.

Due principally to these factors, the disaster management (DM) programme budget was revised down almost 40 per cent in 2006-2007. Despite these challenges, the Afghanistan Red Crescent

Following the fall of the Taliban in November 2001 the international community made a huge commitment to Afghanistan. Donors pledged considerable amounts for reconstruction at international conferences in Tokyo (2002), Berlin (2004) and at the London conference in January 2006. With the increasing impact of this post-emergency aid DG ECHO progressively scaled down the amount and range of its funding, from 73,000,000 EUR in 2002 to 22,500,000 EUR in 2006. However, the progressive deterioration in the security situation has made it increasingly difficult

JALALABAD, 23 September 2007 (IRIN) - Flash floods killed three people, displaced dozens and destroyed at least 100 houses in the Khiwa District of Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authorities (ANDMA) officials told IRIN on 23 September.

"About 300 families are affected by flooding, of which over 180 have been displaced," said Shukrullah Ehsas, head of ANDMA's Nangarhar provincial body.

Affected people said torrential rains,

"There is a greater occurrence of extreme events," Ms. Wahlström said as she briefed correspondents on the surge of flooding in South Asia and elsewhere. "The great risk is that large numbers of people are living in the most vulnerable areas in the

The Ministry is working with district leaders to identify priority projects and then find ways to have them constructed, said Minister Zia, "People have a choice to make: either to improve their livelihoods or retain the status quo".

What MRRD has achieved in the southern

Here is an overview of the five Asian countries worst affected by this year's monsoon weather.

INDIA, about 750 dead:

-- Heavy rains and landslides have displaced more than eight million people since the start of this year's monsoon season, authorities in the affected states say.

-- Northwestern Maharashtra state has been worst hit, with 362 recorded deaths. In southern Kerala state, 143

TALKING POINTS

NEW UNAMA OFFICE IN GHOR

Some of you may already be aware that over the weekend UNAMA opened its latest new office in Chagcharan, the provincial capital of Ghor. With this new office, UNAMA has nearly doubled its field presence across Afghanistan over the last 12 months. Our new office is set to play a key role in helping local communities by coordinating

Ten countries where violence persists and populations live in fear. People in Hunger's Global Hotspots don't know what tomorrow will bring and they often have to rely on WFP for their next meal.

Afghanistan

On 28 June, torrential rain led to severe flooding in Kandahar province.

The Kandahar office dispatched 60 metric tonnes of food for 500 flood affected families in Kandahar city. WFP has also planned to deliver food for 2,000 flood affected families in Helmand, Urozgan, Zabul and Nimroz provinces in the coming weeks.

About 150,000 Afghan refugees currently