Welcome to this edition of Reports from Developing Countries here on China Radio International.  I'm Paris  in Beijing.
In today's program,

• Women and Children in Afghanistan Get Literacy Training Despite Insecurity
• More people were injured in earthquake in Indonesia
• Mexico hopes to normalize relations with Cuba

In Afghanistan's city of Kandahar, violence continues to disrupt the daily lives of civilians – one of the largest suicide attacks killed a hundred people there last week and was followed by another one the following day. Yet despite the insecurity, in this UNICEF report we hear that women are attending literacy classes for the first time in their lives and destitute children are also receiving vocational and literacy training. The report was filed by UNICEF UK Goodwill Ambassador and former BBC war correspondent Martin Bell, who visited the country last year.

(report)

That was UNICEF UK Goodwill Ambassador, and former BBC reporter Martin Bell.

Now, let's take a look at other news from the developing world.

The number of wounded people rose to 34 in the Aceh province in Indonesia during a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 on Wednsday.

The country's health ministry on Thursday said the number of injured people has increased to 34, and 17 houses and four health facilities were seriously damaged.

Television footage of Metro TV showed that hundreds of people still stayed outside their houses due to fears of aftershocks.

The Mexican government said on Tuesday that it would continue to push for the development of Mexico-Cuba relations to realize the normalization of bilateral ties at an early date.

The Foreign Ministry statement was issued following the announcement by Cuban leader Fidel Castro that he is stepping down as president of the Council of Ministers and president of the Council of the State of Cuba.

Relations between Mexico and Cuba soured in 2002 when Mexico backed a UN human rights resolution against Cuba.

That wraps up this edition of Reports from Developing Countries. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email us at crieng@crifm.com, or send a letter to English Service, China Radio International, Beijing, China, postal code 100040.

This is Paris in Beijing. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for more on CRI.