Kabul Conference Warns About Environmental Problems in Afghanistan
Posted on: Saturday, 3 May 2008, 18:00 CDT
Text of report by privately-owned Afghan Ariana TV on 3 May
[Presenter] Addressing a conference on protection of the environment in Kabul, officials of the environment protection department have warned against an outbreak of various diseases, including bone cancer, in Afghanistan unless strict measures are taken to protect the environment. Meanwhile, the head of the environment protection department said some practical measures had been taken to address the environmental crisis in the country. Please listen to a report on this.
[Reporter] The environmental conference, which opened in Kabul today, was attended by parliament's Speaker, some MPs, provincial governors, the heads of provincial councils and some religious scholars. Addressing the conference, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Yunos Qanuni said Afghanistan had struggled with environment related problems over the past few decades. In another part of the conference, an advisor to the president, Eshaq Naderi, said that trees and forests were being brutally demolished in the country and the failure to prevent this would affect people and the environment which may not be remedied in short term.
[Eshaq Naderi in Dari] More than 80 per cent of our people live in villages. They have not access to sufficient water, grass and agricultural lands. They cut trees and use it for firewood and the consecutive years of drought have badly affected green areas all over the country.
[Parliament Speaker in Dari] Afghanistan has been a victim of pollution at both national and international level. Factors such as poverty, the low level of education, long years of war, a dramatic increase in the population and the lack of a culture to protect the environment have contributed to this catastrophe. Today, we do not have a sound and safe environment in Afghanistan and this is a great threat to our health and life in the future.
[Head of the Environment Protection Department] Kabul is an example of poor environment. It does not have a sound environment. Pollution, water and the entire environment as a whole cause deep concern.
[Reporter] The head of the Environment Protection Department, Mustafa Zaher, has said overpopulation, the lack of a good culture to protect environment and the use of substandard fuel in vehicles have greatly contributed to the lack of a safe and sound environment in Afghanistan. He said that a resolution would be issued on specific measures to protect the environment at the end of the conference.
Health Minister Mohammad Amin Fatemi said improvement in environmental affairs would help a 90 per cent decrease in rates of various diseases.
Originally published by Ariana TV, Kabul, in Dari 1530 3 May 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia
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