Some 15,000 families displaced by fighting in southern Afghanistan
Summer fighting pitting government and NATO troops against Taliban fighters has forced some 15,000 families - some 80,000-90,000 people - to flee their homes in three southern Afghanistan provinces.
KABUL, Afghanistan, October 3 (UNHCR) - Fighting pitting government and NATO troops against Taliban combatants has forced some 15,000 families to flee their homes in three southern Afghanistan provinces since July.
UNHCR spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the refugee agency was concerned about this displacement - amounting to approximately 80,000-90,000 people - in Kandahar, Uruzgan and Helmand. She said it had added "new hardship to a population already hosting 116,400 people earlier uprooted by conflict and drought."
The Taliban have been waging a relentless and costly summer campaign in the south against government troops and forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), with British and Canadian soldiers bearing the brunt of attacks.
The Afghan government has created a Disaster Management Committee in Kandahar to coordinate relief efforts. The committee is working in coordination with the United Nations, led by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
"UNHCR, as part of a joint UN effort, is providing the recently displaced Afghans in the province of Kandahar with non-food items. Together with UNICEF, distribution of jerry cans, plastic sheeting, floor mats, lanterns, family kits and blankets is under way," said Edmond Kamina, a UNHCR official in Kandahar. These have been issued to some 3,200 families in Panjwai and Zhare Dasht districts. World Food Programme is providing food aid.
The government is currently assessing the needs of the displaced in the three southern provinces. "We are working very closely with tribal and IDP [internally displaced people] elders in order to assist the conflict-affected people, but they need more assistance to rebuild their lives," said Rahmatullah Safi of the Afghan Department of Refugees and Repatriation.
"People have lost everything, their vineyards, orchards, schools and clinics. Some assistance has already reached them, but more needs to be done," he said, adding that some 5,000 of the displaced families had received aid.
When the fighting escalated, Haji Abdul Majeed, 48, fled to Kandahar with his family from their home in Panjwai. "I will not return my family from Kandahar city until security has been restored," he said.
Meanwhile, UNHCR has said it is ready to assist when it is clear what is required. "We expect further displacement may take place until conditions are safe for the population to return to their homes," Pagonis said. Some families were reported to have left Kandahar city and returned to Panjwai and Zhare Dasht during daylight, but returned to Kandahar at night for safety reasons. UNHCR has no information on population movements to other districts.
By Mohammad Nader Farhad in Kabul, Afghanistan
Related news and stories
Women-run businesses in Afghanistan dealt a blow by deepening restrictions
UNHCR launches new appeal for Afghan refugees and hosts, urging partners to stay the course
I had to flee for my education, but refused to leave other Afghan girls to their fate
Former refugee, now volunteer teacher, helps other Afghan girls get an education
Families struggle for survival during Afghanistan's coldest winter in a decade
Afghan women affected by Taliban bans on work and study fear for their futures
Your search for « "southern afghanistan" » matched 106 results. Displaying page 7 of 12 pages.
-
Lubbers to review relief, return operations in Afghanistan
23 Aug 2002 ... There are more than 400,000 homeless Afghans in southern Afghanistan, some fleeing the effects of the four-year drought, others escaping from ethnic persecution in the north. The High Commissioner ...... -
UNHCR ups estimate for 2002 Afghan returns
7 Jun 2002 ... Food shortages mean that refugees returning to southern Afghanistan do not receive any aid, while people going back into eastern regions get only one-third the planned 150-kilogramme WFP wheat ration. ...... -
UNHCR leads initiative to help displaced Afghans home
3 May 2002 ... Hesar Shahi has been home to more than 24,000 IDPs for the last three years. Finding a durable solution for the 400,000 IDPs in southern Afghanistan is one of the biggest challenges facing the ...... -
Afghans rush to rebuild winter homes
29 Oct 2002 ... The UN refugee agency plans to distribute 60,000 shelter kits during 2003 to assist the many needy Afghan returnees. Meanwhile, in southern Afghanistan, some 9,700 internally displaced persons (IDPs) ...... -
Afghanistan: latest developments
18 Dec 2001 ... The number of refugees crossing from southern Afghanistan into Pakistan has decreased. On Sunday, less than 100 refugees entered Pakistan through the Chaman border. It is assumed that the low traffic ...... -
Afghanistan: another record day of assisted returns
8 Mar 2002 ... Yesterday, we aided 5,700 people - the largest daily number of Afghan returnees since joint UNHCR-Afghan Interim Authority operations started last Friday - back to their homes. Returnees included ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 1999 - Afghanistan
1 Dec 1998 ... ... Most returnees are ethnic Pashtuns originating from rural districts in eastern and southern Afghanistan which have been under the control of the Taliban for several years and are relatively stable. ...... -
UNHCR starts winter assistance to Afghans near Pakistan border
10 Dec 2002 ... More than 19,000 of them were moved earlier this year to a temporary camp at Zhare Dasht in southern Afghanistan, where full assistance is available. Some 30,000 Afghans, however, prefer to stay on ...... -
Afghans continue streaming home after first wave
24 Apr 2003 ... Since the murder of a staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross in southern Afghanistan in March, more than 10 international non-governmental organisations have pulled staff out of ......