KABUL, 11 May 2013 – The Ministry of Finance today signed a grant agreement of $55 million with the World Bank. The grant is being provided by the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s concessional lending arm – to assist Afghan youth to advance their skills and competencies, enabling them to play a constructive role in the country’s growing economy. The Afghanistan - Second Skills Development Project (ASDP II) focuses on building systems and institutions in the formal sector that will impart technical and vocational skills in diverse job streams.

SUMMARY:

• This report includes surveillance data from 27 th April to 3 rd May 2013.

• Out of 349 functional Sentinel sites (SS), 345 (98.8%) have sent their reports in Week-18 of 2013.

• Out of total 307,825 consultations (134,003 Male, 173,822 Female) recorded in week-18 of 2013, 92,175 (44,314 Male, 47,861 Female) consultations were reported due to DEWS target diseases.

H.E. Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, inaugurated the Kandahar Regional Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (KRARDI) on May 5, 2013.

Preface

One year ahead of the withdrawal of the international forces from Afghanistan, the results of the Afghan Opium Survey 2012 show there is still much work to be done in countering opium poppy cultivation and production. According to the findings of the Survey, the total area under cultivation was estimated at 154,000 hectares, an 18 per cent increase from the previous year.

SUMMARY:

• This report includes surveillance data from 13th April to 19 th April 2013.

• Out of 347 functional Sentinel sites (SS), all 347 (100%) have sent their reports in Week-16 of 2013.

• Out of total 327,455 consultations (139,273 Male, 188,182 Female) recorded in week-16 of 2013, 105,250 (50,726 Male, 54,524 Female) consultations were reported due to DEWS target diseases.

Global Fund pledged to provide $ 20 million for Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to strengthen health system and fight against AIDs, tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria diseases in Afghanistan.

Dr. Surya Dalil, Minister of Public Health on Saturday signed the grant agreement with Mr. Lucc Occhini, Regional Director of the Global Fund, while appreciating for this generously assistance, asked its further contribution and collaboration toward health sector of Afghanistan.

The construction of 16-km célèbre secured 10 thousand of families from the threats of flash floods in Khwaja Do Ko district of Jawzjan province. This project has been implemented through Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority worth of AFN 10 million.

The project would not only solve the problems of the people in term of flood threats but would be a good source of irrigation water too.

Construction of four culverts was also included in this project which connects the residents of Khwaja Doko district with Andkhoi-Shabarghan highway.

The new building of Rahe Mahrafat high School of Nahre Shahi district and the girls’ high school of Khurasan Shahr of Mazari-Sharif, Balkh province were opened by the head of education of the province, in presence of some government officials, influential elders, teachers and the students.

Link: Afghanistan: Opium Risk Assessment 2013