Displaced families in Balkh demand winter aid

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): A number of refugees in northern Balkh province said on Tuesday they were not helped by anyone in harsh winter months, but the Department of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs claimed assisting the needy families.

Several foreign aid agencies had provided winter aid to almost 2,000 deserving households across the province, Balkh Director of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs Abdul Saboor Qadri told Pajhwok Afghan News. 

The aid was provided by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Program (WFP) and a number of other organisations, he said, adding the vulnerable families were provided blankets, food items, plastic sheets and dinner sets.

But the refugees insisted they were not provided with adequate aid. They were displaced from Albarz Mountains due to drought and settled in Deh Dadi district, but the government had extended no help to them, said a refugee leader, Baz Muhammad. Of the 480 refugee families living in the area, only 163 households had received winter aid, he said.

The government gave them some assistance four months ago, said Agha Mohammad, another refugee from the district. He demanded winter provision of winter aid, including food items and warm clothing. mas

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