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28/05/2004
UN chief heads to Afghanistan over opium fears
The United Nations counter-narcotics chief is heading to Afghanistan this weekend as a result of concern the 2004 country's opium crop may reach record levels – topping last year's 3,600 tons.
While in Afghanistan for his eight-day tour, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will review the situation on the ground and urge "a more effective implementation" of the National Drug Control Strategy.
On his way to the capital Kabul, he will visit some opium producing provinces, meeting with key governors, police chiefs and military commanders, as well as some opium-growing farmers.
Mr Costa said: "Unfortunately, there is no easy way of solving Afghanistan's opium problem. In countries like Thailand, Pakistan and Turkey, where the problem was as severe, it took a generation to reverse the trend, and put an end to it."
In 2003, opium production in Afghanistan reached an estimated 3,600 tons, a 6% increase over the previous year, generating $1 billion in income for farmers and $1.3 billion for traffickers - the equivalent of 52% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). Recent UNODC surveys indicated that a further increase in production was now "likely".
Mr Costa, appealing to the international community to give more help to Afghan farmers to switch from opium cultivation to legal activities, said: "The opium economy will continue to grow as long as drug production and trafficking are conducted without risk of retribution or the incentive to do something else. It is urgent to redress this risk-reward imbalance, making engagement in illicit activities legally and economically unattractive."
Before travelling to Afghanistan, Mr Costa visited Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where the availability of opium has increased the lure of drug abuse. A rise in the number of people injecting heroin is causing a dramatic spike in the incidence of HIV/AIDS, according to UNODC. Narcotics money also provides resources to organized crime and terrorist groups, the agency said.
(gmcg)
While in Afghanistan for his eight-day tour, Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will review the situation on the ground and urge "a more effective implementation" of the National Drug Control Strategy.
On his way to the capital Kabul, he will visit some opium producing provinces, meeting with key governors, police chiefs and military commanders, as well as some opium-growing farmers.
Mr Costa said: "Unfortunately, there is no easy way of solving Afghanistan's opium problem. In countries like Thailand, Pakistan and Turkey, where the problem was as severe, it took a generation to reverse the trend, and put an end to it."
In 2003, opium production in Afghanistan reached an estimated 3,600 tons, a 6% increase over the previous year, generating $1 billion in income for farmers and $1.3 billion for traffickers - the equivalent of 52% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). Recent UNODC surveys indicated that a further increase in production was now "likely".
Mr Costa, appealing to the international community to give more help to Afghan farmers to switch from opium cultivation to legal activities, said: "The opium economy will continue to grow as long as drug production and trafficking are conducted without risk of retribution or the incentive to do something else. It is urgent to redress this risk-reward imbalance, making engagement in illicit activities legally and economically unattractive."
Before travelling to Afghanistan, Mr Costa visited Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where the availability of opium has increased the lure of drug abuse. A rise in the number of people injecting heroin is causing a dramatic spike in the incidence of HIV/AIDS, according to UNODC. Narcotics money also provides resources to organized crime and terrorist groups, the agency said.
(gmcg)
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29 October 2003
Afghanistan's opium production reaches new high
Opium production in Afghanistan has become much more widespread and the country now produces about three-quarters of the world’s output of the drug, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Afghanistan's opium production reaches new high
Opium production in Afghanistan has become much more widespread and the country now produces about three-quarters of the world’s output of the drug, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
19 February 2004
Afghan opium production to rise again, UN warns
Last year Afghanistan produced its highest amount of opium since 1999 – an estimated 3,600 tons, or more than three-quarters of the global supply – and the country is poised to exceed that amount this year, according to the results of a UN survey released today.
Afghan opium production to rise again, UN warns
Last year Afghanistan produced its highest amount of opium since 1999 – an estimated 3,600 tons, or more than three-quarters of the global supply – and the country is poised to exceed that amount this year, according to the results of a UN survey released today.
02 February 2004
UN appeal set to tackle Afghan opium production
Poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan must be addressed if serious inroads are to be made into ending opium production, the UN has said. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) today appealed for $25.
UN appeal set to tackle Afghan opium production
Poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan must be addressed if serious inroads are to be made into ending opium production, the UN has said. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) today appealed for $25.
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Commander calls for more Nato troops for Afghanistan
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