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UN to fly food into Afghanistan

The UN World Food Programme said it plans to begin airlifts within days.

The central Afghan region of Hazarajat has been shut off for almost seven months by the Islamic Taleban movement.

The UN planes will fly from the Pakistani city of Peshawar delivering the 7,000 tons of wheat needed to get the local people through the winter.

The Taleban blockade worsened existing shortages caused by a poor local harvest. Fears of famine are high.

The UN said 1.2 million people are affected by the blockade and 160,000 are on the brink of starvation.

It said the Taleban had indicated it would allow land convoys carrying food to Hazarajat safe passage through the surrounding territory it controls.

But after a meeting on Tuesday, the UN was informed that Taleban commanders had changed their minds.

As airdrops are more expensive, other humanitarian programmes in Afghanistan will have to be cut, the UN said.

But for many people in the area, the UN programme comes too late.

Even after the winter, some see no immediate prospect for change.

Instead of waiting, they are getting out. Daily, buses crammed with hungry people make their way out of Afghanistan.

Related Stories

Food crisis as Taleban blockade opponents (From Despatches)
UN urged to solve Afghan food crisis (From Despatches)
Fears of winter famine in Afghanistan (From Despatches)
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Afghan food blockade (From Despatches)

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