Herat – Afghanistan is currently facing its worst drought in decades.
More than half of the displaced have settled in Herat city, 39 per cent are in and around Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis, and the remaining two per cent in other provinces.
The displaced population is desperately poor and lack access to food, water, shelter and health services.
Many are living in tents or in the open air with the onset of freezing winter temperatures.
USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is responding to the crisis with a major airlift of aid, including plastic sheeting, blankets and kitchen sets, to help 10,000 families or 70,000 individuals.
IOM is organizing warehousing of the aid and its distribution in Herat and Badghis over the next three weeks.
The first of three C-17 aircraft carrying the aid landed in Herat on Saturday (17/11).
Ambassador John Bass, speaking at Herat airport, welcomed the airlift.
3.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in 20 of the most drought-affected provinces in Afghanistan, UN World Food Programme reported last week.
More information on IOM assistance to Afghans affected and displaced by natural disasters, including drought, can be found here.