Kabul, 3 November 2008
FOOD PRE-POSITIONING PRIOR TO WINTER
In response to this winter's needs
36,000 tons of food is being sent to areas that will be cut off. These
are part of WFP's regular programmes as well as for drought and high price
mitigation.
From this amount, 38 per cent has been
already dispatched to very difficult areas. As an example 55 per cent of
the ration for Badakhshan, one of the worst and first affected areas, has
been dispatched.
With expected consignments the pipeline
is secured until early next spring. However, we need to receive further
support from the donor community to secure the pipeline from March onwards,
as the lead time it takes to get food into the country after a donation
is three to four months.
Every effort is being made to ensure
that food will reach its intended beneficiaries before certain areas become
inaccessible. WFP advises that they will keep you informed on progress.
BAMYAN DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Bamyan's development will be the subject
of a conference that's being held tomorrow at the Serena Hotel by the
Ministry of Economy and the Bamyan provincial authorities.
This conference is a follow-up to a
July Conference in Bamyan and aims to improve coordination and partnership
between the province, central government, and the international community.
It will look at provincial development and cultural and infrastructure
plans, and at ensuring that gender concerns are incorporated.
UNDP Afghanistan's Gender Equality
Project is supporting this conference. Media are invited and an advisory
will be sent out later today.