ALLANKULAM, 8 September 2011 (IRIN) - More policies and programmes must address the needs of female-headed households in Sri Lanka's former conflict zone, experts say. full report

KAMPALA, 7 September 2011 (IRIN) - A plan to replace a large swathe of protected rainforest in Uganda with sugarcane could lead to further civil unrest in a year when nine people have been killed during strikes and protests against the rising cost of living. full report

VIENTIANE, 7 September 2011 (IRIN) - Heavy flooding during the northern summer, affecting 10 of the country's 17 provinces, has underlined the need for stronger disaster-management efforts, say experts. full report

NAIROBI, 6 September 2011 (IRIN) - Al-Shabab insurgents have prevented thousands of people fleeing famine-struck parts of Somalia from reaching humanitarian assistance in Mogadishu, trucking them instead to a makeshift camp 50km south of the capital, where aid is severely limited. full report

SULTAN KUDARAT, 6 September 2011 (IRIN) - Aid workers and analysts have expressed concern after the Philippines' largest Muslim separatist group rejected a proposed peace deal relating to the island of Mindanao. full report