/ 18 November 2006

Nato sends aid to flood-hit Afghanistan

Heavy flooding has killed at least 52 people in north-western Afghanistan and left scores more missing this week, and Nato airlifted emergency aid on Saturday, officials said.

Governor of badly hit Badghis province Mohammad Nasim Tokhi said at least 50 people were still missing and more than 1 000 people were homeless.

Nato had sent a provincial reconstruction team to the worst-hit areas and flew in fresh supplies on Saturday.

”It’s the things that will help people the most — medical supplies, blankets, the things that will keep them warm at night,” said NATO spokesperson Major Luke Knittig.

”Clothes, food, the basic things that they are going to need if they have found themselves stranded.”

The rains coming at the start of winter have destroyed about 10 villages in Badghis and another 150 homes in neighbouring Herat province. There were no early reports of casualties in Herat.

Afghanistan has been hit by heavy snow and rain in recent days. — Reuters