Afghan drought ‘displacing more people than Taliban conflict’

A deadly drought in Afghanistan is causing a humanitarian crisis that has displaced more people this year than the war between the government and the Taliban.
Half of our children are here.
Mr Mohammed is one of an estimated 260,000 people who have been forced from their homes in northern and western Afghanistan because of a severe drought in the region.
But the UN says that this year, the drought has displaced more Afghans than even the conflict between the Taliban and the government.
The drought is adding to the misery of Afghans who are already suffering in the war Qadir Assemy from the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) is helping co-ordinate the relief effort in Herat, which has seen an influx of people fleeing their homes.
"It’s very challenging because of the scale of the disaster," he tells the BBC.
At present, the UNWFP is distributing money for people to buy food.
One woman sitting with four young children tells me she has recently arrived from the northern province of Faryab.
Others described being forced to sell their livestock or borrow money simply to survive.
Mr Assemy believes the cold weather is "a major concern" as it seems unlikely that the displaced people will be able to return to their homes in the coming months.

Learn More