Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alert - Afghanistan 1/2000 UN warns that up to one million lives are at risk in Afghanistan Geneva, 01 November, 2000
The United Nations on Friday last said, up to one million Afghans could die of starvation amid the worse drought in 30 years unless international donors react swiftly to appeals for help. UN and aid agencies are responding to the needs of hundreds of communities and thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The condition of the IDPs in the west and north of the country is very poor and deaths due to starvation were reported by the World Food Program. The drought is effecting communities across the country with more than three million Afghans severely effected and in need of assistance specially during the harsh winter months. ACT members, Church World Service (CWS) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) - Pakistan/Afghanistan Programs have been providing much needed assistance to the most vulnerable families affected by the severe drought (ref. ACT Appeal Afghanistan: Emergency Drought Relief - ASAF01 issued on 17 May, '00, which unfortunately is only 46% funded till date). With the limited support received from the ACT network, CWS has assisted 1500 families with food for work, improving their access to clean drinking water and improving health and sanitation. As the harsh Afghan winter approaches, CWS, in association with Cooperation Center for Afghanistan and Norwegian Project Office plans to assist 5000 most vulnerable families in Kabul, Hazarajat and Northern Afghanistan. These families, comprising female headed house holds, ethnic/religious minorities and internally displaced persons belong to the marginalized communities and thus also the worst affected by the drought. To help save and sustain lives, CWS proposes to assist these families with the following winter package: Three months food rations Three month heating oil supplies (150 liters) Shelter kit (blankets, plastic sheeting and ground sheeting) Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Neville Pradhan (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 285 2916) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -