U.N. Warns Increasing Misery in Western Afghanistan

The United Nations on Friday warned that the situation in western Afghanistan continues to deteriorate as summer approaches, with about 1,000 people leaving their homes each day to escape drought and conflict.

Truckloads of families were arriving in the provincial capital of Herat, where six camps for displaced persons now hold 110,000 people, the U.N. said.

Sanitary conditions are poor, which makes the World Health Organization (WHO) seriously concerned about the risk of epidemics in the camps with the onset of warmer, more humid weather, it said.

Noting that Rural areas in western Afghanistan are also in dire need of help, the United Nations said many families do not have enough assets to remain in their homes and have exhausted their food supplies and livestock herds.

According to U.N., various governments, including the United States, Norway and Japan, have carried out airlifts of supplies to the area, but need is outstanding. Given the scale of need, the aid community will have to maintain assistance at current or higher levels for at least the next 12 months.

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