The Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan acknowledges recent emergency contributions

Islamabad (Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan), 20 February 2001 -- The Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan acknowledges recent emergency contributions by various donors in response to urgent appeals on behalf of persons displaced by drought and conflict inside Afghanistan. In particular, four cargo flights have delivered much needed relief supplies to Herat.
The US Office for Disaster Assistance (OFDA) airlifted the first consignment of non-food items on 10 February 2001 to Herat. The supplies included 250 large tents, 12,500 blankets, and 1,800 water containers. On Saturday 16 February, a second consignment of OFDA assistance arrived in Herat. This included over 8,000 kilos of high protein biscuits, 360 tents and poles, tarps, 8,500 blankets, and medical kits.

Norway/OCHA also airlifted two consignments of non-food items to the city. These included over 20,000 quilted blankets, 24 large tents, 300 family tents, 300 wood heaters, and spare parts for heaters. The total value of the contribution amounted to $483,000.

The United Nations has asked donors for more short-term additional emergency support for the newly displaced as well as increased and faster contributions to the United Nations Afghanistan Appeal. Of special importance is funding for emergency food security programmes to prevent displacement and emergencies from developing in the first place.

Up to 600,000 Afghans have been newly displaced or have become refugees in 2000 and 2001 due to the twin problems of conflict and drought. The number of those displaced continues to rise. In Hazarajat, as many as 60,000 people have been displaced or have left Afghanistan due to conflict and drought. Due to the recent fighting in the area, numbers of displaced persons are expected to have risen considerably, but no assessments are possible due to insecurity.

For further information, please contact Stephanie Bunker, Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan, 92 51 2211451 x 415; 0320 261325.