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Children benefitting from CWS assistance in Afghanistan.
Photo: Chris Herlinger / Church World Service
January 23, 2008
A deteriorating security situation in the Hazarajat (central highlands) region of Afghanistan -- caused by both a growing Taliban presence and the onset of a harsh winter -- has resulted in increased numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the area, with IDPs leaving their communities from within Ghazni province and other neighboring provinces, such as Uruzgan. Displaced families find themselves facing food shortages and the need for heated shelter. Many are now in the center of Ghazni, which is a safer area than some of the nearby surrounding regions.
RESPONSE: CWS is responding to this emergency by providing assistance to 450 displaced families (about 3,150 persons) and some of their host families in a relief program done in concert with CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan's long-time partner, the Afghan Development Association (ADA).
The program will be based at the center of Ghazni, the destination of many of the migrating persons, and the locale of ADA's provincial offices.
The CWS program entails distribution of food packages that include 50 kilograms of wheat flour, 10 liters of cooking oil, 7 kilograms of beans, 7 kilograms of peas, 175 kilograms of wood (for burning for heat) and 1 stove.
The packages will assist the families to live more comfortably in their shelters for a month's time during the harshest time of the Afghan winter.
Special note: Please note that in the last year, CWS has provided a number of resources on the ways the CWS-supported program work in Afghanistan is making a difference in people's lives. To access those resources, go to: www.churchworldservice.org/news/Afghanistan/
Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be made online, sent to your denomination, or to: Church World Service, Appeal - Account #6997 (Ghazni Afghanistan Displaced Emergency Assistance), P.O. Box 968 Elkhart, IN 46515.
Contributions may also be made by calling:(800) 297-1516, ext. 222.
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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