US Announces Additional Humanitarian Aid for AfghanistanThe US has announced an additional dollar 43 million humanitarian aid for the "people of Afghanistan" facing the worst drought in the country's history."Afghanistan is in crisis. After more than 20 years of war and now the third year of a devastating drought, the country is on the verge of a widespread famine. Nearly four million Afghans are at risk. If the international community does not take immediate action, countless deaths and a terrible tragedy will certainly follow," Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters announcing the aid on Thursday. The latest aid will provide 65,000 more tons of wheat, dollar five million in complementary food commodities, and dollar 10 mllion in other livelihood and food programmes within Afghanistan. "We distribute assistance in Afghanistan through international agencies of the UN and non-governmental organisations." Powell said the US provided about dollar 114 million in aid to Afghanistan last year. With this new package, the US humanitarian assistance to date this year will reach dollar 124 million. |
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