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Tuesday 21 February 2006


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Middle East

MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 47 for 4-10 November 2005

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

CONTENTS:

EGYPT: Parliamentary elections begin amid cautious hopes for change
EGYPT: Kofi Annan, in Cairo, discusses regional stability
EGYPT: Female contenders for parliament demand greater representation
EGYPT: Media coverage of election biased, experts say
IRAQ: Urgent assistance needed for al-Qaim displaced, aid workers say
IRAQ: More than 200 parties register for parliamentary elections
IRAQ: Dozens dead, thousands displaced in west, doctors say
IRAQ: Primary school nutrition programme to broaden reach
IRAQ: Japan debt write-off to boost reconstruction efforts
IRAQ: Ministry moves to curb abuse in schools
IRAQ: Braving threats, shrinking handful of professionals stay in country
JORDAN: Aid agencies serving Iraq remain vigilant following bombings
SYRIA: Activists welcome prisoner releases
YEMEN: Despite progress, more funds needed for mine clearance

EGYPT: Parliamentary elections begin amid cautious hopes for change

The first round of Egyptian parliamentary elections kicked off on Wednesday, with polling stations opening to voters in eight governorates. Coming in the wake of the country’s first-ever multi-candidate presidential elections, held in September, observers are calling the parliamentary contest one of the most important political races in recent history.

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EGYPT: Kofi Annan, in Cairo, discusses regional stability

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Cairo on Monday as part of a four-nation tour of the Middle East and North Africa to discuss regional stability.

Full report

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EGYPT: Female contenders for parliament demand greater representation

Female candidates in Egypt’s upcoming legislative elections should be given as much say in their country’s political affairs – and as much coverage in the media – as their male counterparts, women parliamentary hopefuls said on Monday.

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EGYPT: Media coverage of election biased, experts say

As the first of three rounds of voting in Egypt’s parliamentary election got underway on Wednesday, media coverage has been biased in favour of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), human rights experts said.

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IRAQ: Urgent assistance needed for al-Qaim displaced, aid workers say

Thousands of displaced people from the towns of al-Qaim and Husaybah who have taken refuge in other parts of the western Anbar governorate are living in desperate conditions and in urgent need of assistance, relief workers said on Wednesday. US-led forces launched a major offensive - dubbed Operation Steel Curtain - in Husaybah on 5 November in response to alleged "terrorist" activity along Iraq's border with western neighbour, Syria. Earlier, on 31 October, they had carried out air strikes on al-Qaim.

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IRAQ: More than 200 parties register for parliamentary elections

Some 228 coalitions and political entities have registered to participate in Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for 15 December, the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq has announced

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IRAQ: Dozens dead, thousands displaced in west, doctors say

Dozens of civilians were killed and injured on Saturday when US-led forces launched an offensive on the western Iraqi town of Husaybah, according to local doctors

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IRAQ: Primary school nutrition programme to broaden reach

In an effort to reduce malnutrition among children, more Iraqi primary schools students will be included in the Nutrition Schools Programme (NSP) in the 2005/2006 academic year, say officials at the ministries of health and education.

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IRAQ: Japan debt write-off to boost reconstruction efforts

The Japanese government has agreed to write off 80 percent of the debt it is owed by Iraq, a move that will give the local reconstruction effort a much needed boost, government officials said on Tuesday.

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IRAQ: Ministry moves to curb abuse in schools

Eight-year-old Mohammed Ali from Baghdad refused to go back to school this year because he says he was abused and insulted by his teachers.

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IRAQ: Braving threats, shrinking handful of professionals stay in country

Ali Bashir, a lecturer at Iraq’s Baghdad University, has received four threats since the beginning of the year telling him to quit his job and leave the country.

Full report

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JORDAN: Aid agencies serving Iraq remain vigilant following bombings

Aid agencies operating from the Jordanian, capital, Amman, that serve Iraq said they will remain vigilant and are in the process of discussing whether further security measures are needed following Wednesday’s bombs attacks.

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SYRIA: Activists welcome prisoner releases

The recent release of 190 political prisoners in Syriawas lauded by local human rights activists and lawyers, although they say the government must put an end to the country’s 42-year-old emergency law and its wide use of security courts.

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YEMEN: Despite progress, more funds needed for mine clearance

Yemen will be declared landmine-free in time for a March 2009 deadline, but only if the country’s Mine Action Centre (MAC) receives enough support to implement its second five-year plan, the MAC chairman said on Monday.

Full report

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[ENDS]

Theme(s)	Children

Other recent MIDDLE EAST reports:

MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 61 for 10 - 16 February 2006, 16/Feb/06

MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 60 for 3 - 9 February 2006, 12/Feb/06

Journalists hoping to improve reporting on HIV/AIDS, 9/Feb/06

MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 59 for 27 January - 2 February 2006, 5/Feb/06

Gulf support for quake likely to continue into reconstruction, 2/Feb/06

Other recent Children reports:

IRAQ: Thousands of families still displaced after flooding, 21/Feb/06

SOUTH AFRICA: Govt adopts more focused approach to help orphans, 21/Feb/06

YEMEN: Two killed in flash floods, 21/Feb/06

YEMEN: Measles vaccination campaign launched to prevent children’s deaths, 21/Feb/06

TAJIKISTAN: UN appeal for 2006 launched, 16/Feb/06

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