Afghanistan: Avalanche - Jan 2009

(Extract)

Providing food aid in remote mountainous areas of Afghanistan

Drought, famine, severe weather conditions and other climate change-induced hazards pose significant risks for most of Afghanistan, often adding to the impact of the global food crisis on local populations. Coupled with a volatile economy and labour market, these hazards leave isolated mountainous communities with restricted access to food.

Executive summary

Afghanistan has experienced three decades of internal conflict which has seriously affected its socio-economical infrastructure, causing wide scale displacement of people both within and outside the country accompanied by widespread poverty. The cumulative impacts of the conflict and its aftermath have deprived many people access to basic facilities like water, electricity and basic health care.

Berlin - In 2008, Johanniter mainly focused on providing medical care throughout 22 countries, and invested donations and subsidies in the amount of nine million Euros - half a million more than the previous year. Although, the share of donations has slightly decreased from 2007, subsidies from third-party donors, such as Germany's Foreign Office, have increased.

KABUL, 3 March 2009 (IRIN) - Some health specialists are suggesting that couples plan pregnancies so that the mother's due date does not fall in the cold winter months.