SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER DETERIORATING

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, caused by the combination of drought and conflict, and resulting in the displacement of more than 500,000 people in recent months.  He fears that the death from cold of over 100 internally displaced people in Herat this week is a tragedy that could be replicated around the country should the crisis in Afghanistan not be addressed vigorously and immediately.

The Secretary-General again calls upon the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to desist immediately from fighting and to enable the Afghan people to return to their homes for the planting season.  He also urges the international donor community to allocate additional resources for emergency relief and drought mitigation.

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