Refugees flee violent clashes in Afghanistan

Clashes in central Afghanistan have reportedly forced some 60 families to flee, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.

A UN spokesperson said that four days of fighting between two commanders erupted in Koshak valley on August 26 and had restarted again.

UNHCR, which is monitoring the situation, said the violence has subsided and voiced hope that the affected families would soon be able to safely return to their homes.

Instability in the area is of particular concern because of extensive violations documented by the agency.

“Our return monitoring teams have collected over the past two years numerous reports of human rights abuses and harassment by the local commanders in Daikundi area,” the spokesperson, Maki Shinohara, said.

There are 220,000 internally displaced people in Afghanistan, according to the agency, which is working to address their plight.

Elsewhere, International Development Secretary Valerie Amos has announced a £10 million package for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund for priority national development programmes.

In the next three years the UK government plans to contribute around £300 million to Afghanistan – £70 million of which will support the country's anti-drugs strategy.

(gmcg)