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Annan appeals for $584 mn to avert Afghan crisis

Dharam Shourie in United Nations

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has asked donor countries for $584 million to avert a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as it braces for possible US attacks on terrorist bases in the country.

The United Nations estimates that 7.5 million Afghans will require assistance within the country. Another 1.5 million are expected to cross into neighbouring countries, mainly Pakistan and Iran.

Almost half of the money being sought will go to the UN refugee agency to handle an increase of 1.5 million people expected to enter the neighbouring countries. The rest will go towards food aid.

Calling on international donors to help, Annan said Afghanistan and its neighbours have seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of people relying on aid for survival.

The UN, he said, is working to bolster its capacity to respond to the emergency.

"We are adjusting our management structures in the field so that we can handle this crisis in all its broad regional implications," he said.

Annan stressed that innocent civilians should not be punished for the actions of their government.

PTI

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