A joint programme to distribute nearly 2,000 tonnes of food aid to the most needy people in the central Hazarajat region of Afghanistan has almost been completed.

The United Nations World Food Programme and the British aid charity, Oxfam, have been distributing wheat to about 30% of people in areas worst affected by food shortages.

Food shortages have been a frequent problem for the mountainous and remote Hazarajat region.

In recent years, these difficulties have been compounded by front lines between the country's warring sides and this year, food supplies have been affected by another bad harvest.

Chris Johnson, of Oxfam, who has just returned from the Hazarajat, says that in many places, yields from crops were down to a quarter and on average down to 60% of the normal harvest.

She says hill wheat did not suffer too much, but that irrigated wheat was affected by what is known as rust, which basically rots the crop.

Roads opened

There is food in the markets, because main roads to the region have been open since the Taleban seized the area in September.

But Chris Johnson says that after several years of considerable hardship, most people simply cannot afford to buy the food.

During the summer months this year, the World Food Programme surveyed the Hazarajat and identified the most needy areas.

Over the past few weeks, it has also managed to carry in wheat by road convoys.

But Chris Johnson says ordinary people in the Hazarajat remain worried about the prospect of more fighting and the effect it would have on further food supplies.