At least one million Afghans who have fled fighting and drought in
the country face famine and a major humanitarian catastrophe is in the making, a senior UN official said today.
Mr Kenzo Oshima, top aide on humanitarian affairs to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said after returning from a tour of Afghanistan and Pakistan there was an urgent need for help from the international community.
"We believe that at least one million people are at risk of famine," he told a news conference. Half of the refugees were crammed into camps for displaced people inside the country and others in villages aid workers cannot reach.
"This is a big tragedy indeed and one that cries out for some kind of international help," said Mr Oshima.
At least 170,000 people have crossed into Pakistan in recent months, and 700 were still crossing every day, he added.