United Nations, Oct 8 (IANS) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was deeply concerned about large scale displacements as a result of recent fighting in Kunduz city, Afghanistan, as well as the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation for those still trapped in the city, a UN spokesman said here on Friday.
Initial reports suggest up to 10,000 people have fled Kunduz in recent days, arriving in Kabul, Taloqan and Mazar-i-Sharif, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.
"OCHA says many of those families were unable to bring their possessions with them and are in a precarious situation."
"Some have been forced to sleep out in the open and many are without food," Haq said. "Meanwhile, families trapped in Kunduz are facing water shortages and power cuts, and are finding it increasingly difficult to find food, fuel or health services."
"OCHA is working with partners to help the most vulnerable by coordinating the delivery of humanitarian assistance," he said.
Sporadic clashes between security forces and Taliban militants resumed on Wednesday in embattled northern Afghan city of Kunduz, causing a devastating impact on civilians who have been left without basic services, food or potable water.
Kunduz was famous as the breadbasket of Afghanistan in the past, before conflicts and droughts.
Nowadays, most of the residents have been suffering from shortage of food and water after fighting broke out. The price of one piece of bread has risen from 10 Afghanis to 50, reports said.
The Taliban have been on the rampage since mid-April when they launched their so-called annual spring offensive in different places in Afghanistan, including capital Kabul, killing and injuring hundreds.
More than 1,600 civilians were killed and over 3,560 injured in the first half of the year as the violence spread in different places of the country, according to a report by the UN mission in Afghanistan released on July 25.
The clashes in Kunduz came as an international conference was held on Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium, with development and economy of the war-hit country on top of its agenda.
--IANS
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