BBC News Online: World: South Asia

UN cash call for Afghan drought

The United Nations says one-point-eight million dollars is needed immediately to provide urgent short-term relief as drought continues to devastate Afghanistan.

The UN says drinking water, emergency food rations and fodder for livestock are needed.

Southern Afghanistan has been worst-hit by the drought: more than half of all flocks have already died.

The BBC Kabul correspondent says many Afghans have few or no resources to fall back on.

She says the dry weather has come when the Afghan economy was already suffering from tighter border controls, a deteriorating exchange rate and big increases in food prices.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service