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UN rapporteur on refugees expresses concern over escalating conflict in Afghanistan

Xinhua, October 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

A UN special rapporteur expressed concern on Thursday over the escalating conflict and increasing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan and urged the international community to speed up efforts to meet the need of IDPs in the militancy-plagued country.

"The displacement picture in Afghanistan is changing as the conflict evolves and intensifies," UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of IDPs Chaloka Beyani told a press conference.

"Displacement is becoming more protracted for more people as the security situation has led many to make the difficult decision not to return to their homes."

Worsening security situation and the ongoing militancy have forced the Afghan people to leave their houses for safer places. More than 1.1 million Afghans have been displaced due to conflicts since 2001 and more than 323,000 were registered as displaced persons in the first 10 months of 2016, according to officials.

"Warnings by humanitarian partners suggest that many more IDPs could be displaced by the end of the year. Yet attention and resources allocated to their needs seem to be waning rather than increasing in line with the growing challenges and need for durable solutions," the UN expert on refugees said.

Beyani, who toured IDPs locations around Kabul, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif on Oct. 11-20, said thousands of IDPs were living in dire conditions and facing abject poverty.

Thousands of Afghans have been displaced in the wake of intensifying attacks by Taliban militants against government interests in northern Kunduz, southern Helmand and western Farah provinces over the past month, according to Afghan officials.

Beyani also warned that the onset of winter will bring additional challenges for the already vulnerable IDPs.

He also urged the donor community to respond generously and rapidly to the call after the UN appealed for 150 million U.S. dollars to meet urgent needs including winter assistance package by the end of the year in September. Endit